Physical traits cannot determine caste or religion, says Madras High Court

The Madras High Court has ruled that physical characteristics such as fair skin, curly hair, and height cannot be used to determine a person's caste or religion. The court made this observation while overturning an earlier order that had deemed a man's community certificate invalid based on his physical attributes.

The judgment underscores that certificates issued under constitutional provisions for identifying members of Scheduled Castes or Other Backward Classes must be assessed on proper legal grounds, not subjective physical assessments. The ruling aims to prevent arbitrary rejection of community certificates based on appearance.