The Hindu Bureau

The State Government on Monday issued orders to allow persons from Scheduled Castes to identify themselves as “Buddhist” in the religion column that is part of the Scheduled Castes certificate.

While Monday’s order issued by the Social Welfare Department enables those from 101 Scheduled Castes who have converted to Buddhism to declare their religion in the caste certificate, it also allows the families to declare their religion as “Buddhism” in the religion column in the documents of schools coming under Department of Education and Literacy, private schools and other educational institutions.

The latest GO has been issued under the Karnataka Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (Reservation in appointments) Act 1990 which has been amended in 2024.

The order said that though a circular had been issued earlier, several organisations and associations had sought clarification on the issue and petitioned the government to issue an order in this regard. The order quoted directions issued by the Union government’s Ministry of Welfare in November 1990, order by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, 2016 and 2017, which were based on the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Orders (Amendment) Act, 1990.