“She converted to Islam, availed Haj Subsidy, yet got Dalit-reserved Zila Panchayat Seat. Finally, her caste certificate is cancelled”, Swarajyamag, June 12, 2024:

“Do individuals born as members of Scheduled Castes retain their caste-related government benefits after converting to Islam or Christianity? Paragraph 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, under Article 341, states that “no person who professes a religion different from the Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist religion shall be deemed to be a member of Scheduled Castes.”

Despite this clear constitutional position, authorities often overlook it when issuing caste certificates or granting caste-based benefits to those who have converted to any other religion than Sikhism or Buddhism. Rights groups frequently challenge these oversights legally, but the resolution of such cases often takes several years. In one such case, it has taken close to 10 years to cancel a Scheduled Caste certificate issued to a woman who converted to Islam.

The woman has already completed her full five-year tenure as a member of zila panchayat in her area — a position that was reserved for a Dalit woman. The Case Shakuntala, who is now 65, was born in a Hindu family in the Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh to Ramnath Singh and Bhagwan Deyi. The parents belong to the Jaatav caste that comes under the Dalit category. After the death of her first husband, who also belonged to a Hindu family of the Jaatav caste, Shakuntala married one Abdul Lateef.

The wedding was conducted as per Islamic rites and she was renamed to Shakila after her conversion. She was in her early 20s that time. The year was 1983. In 2015, Shakila fought the zila panchayat poll from ward number 8 of Najibabad block in Bijnor, which is an SC-reserved seat, and won. The caste certificate that she submitted with her nomination was made in 2011, and was signed by one Khan Rashid Ali as seen below……”

Read the full article at Swarajyamag.com