SC Status of Non-SC Parents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Instructions of the Government in regard to status of an offspring born of inter-caste marriages, where one of the spouses is a (I) Scheduled Caste, or (II) Scheduled Tribe, are as follows:-

(I) where one of the spouses is a SC:

Irrespective of the fact whether the father or the mother is a member of Scheduled Caste community, the crucial test is that a child born out of such a wedlock should have been brought up in that surrounding and in that community, and accepted by them as their member. Each case has to be examined in the light of the circumstances prevalent in that case and final decision taken.

(II) where one of the spouses is a ST:

Main determining factor is the recognition and acceptance by the society of the children born out of such a marriage. The final result will always depend upon on whether the child was accepted as a member of the Scheduled Tribe or not. However, each case has to be examined in the light of the existing facts and circumstances in such cases and final decision taken

This information was given by Shri D. Napoleon, the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.