Union Minister for Minorities Affairs, K Rahman Khan, on 10 June, stated that inclusion of Christians and Muslims of Dalit origin into Scheduled Caste was not possible because of the petition challenging the constitutional validity of the 1950 Presidential Order is pending in Apex Court. However, he accepted that the demand is legitimate and justified. Para 3 of the Constitution Order 1950 holds that only Dalits who practise Hinduism can be treated as Scheduled Caste. There were two amendments in the order to grant the same status to Sikhs and Buddhists. Mr. Khan did not explain what stopped the government from filing an affidavit in the Supreme Court about its stand on the issue.
INCLUSION OF MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS INTO SC STILL FAR AWAY
Union Minister for Minorities Affairs, K Rahman Khan, on 10 June, stated that inclusion of Christians and Muslims of Dalit origin into Scheduled Caste was not possible because of the petition challenging the constitutional validity of the 1950 Presidential
