Scheulded Caste-- SC&ST Act Protection Unavailable to person professing a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism
Clause 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 imposes an absolute bar. No person professing a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism can claim Scheduled Caste status. Conversion results in immediate loss of all statutory benefits, reservations, and protections flowing from such membership. A non-cancelled caste certificate does not restore entitlement post-conversion. Simultaneous profession of another religion and claim of Scheduled Caste membership are mutually exclusive under the constitutional scheme.
