An expert committee that is looking into the separate religion tag for the Lingayat community, on Saturday, received over 50 representations from organisations and individuals seeking the religious minority status for the community.

Retired High Court judge Justice H N Nagmohan Das, who is heading the eight-member committee, told reporters that the committee had invited the petitioners to appear before it and defend their stand on February 2 and 3.

The committee, which has sought six months' time to submit its report to the government, will cross examine the petition with "facts" after the hearing, said a member. The government is yet to set a time-frame for the committee to submit its report.

DH News Service