Issue SC certificates to persons belonging scheduled castes, converted to Buddhism: Karnataka govt
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka government has issued an order to provide SC caste certificates to people belonging to the scheduled castes even after their conversion to Buddhism.
This order will be applicable to persons belonging to any of the 101 Scheduled Castes in the state who converted to Buddhism, the social welfare department said in its order.
"It is ordered to issue the Scheduled Caste Certificate to persons belonging to 101 Scheduled Castes in the Karnataka Scheduled Caste list who have converted to Buddhism, as per the Karnataka Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (Reservation in Appointments, etc.) Act, 1990 (Amendment) Act, 2024 and Rules, 1992," the order dated October 6 said.
The order provides for allowing to mention 'Buddhism' in the religion column in applications for Scheduled Caste Certificates.
Also, allowing the applicants/parents to enter Buddhism in the religion column in the documents of government schools/private schools/all other educational institutions under the jurisdiction of the Department of School Education and Literacy, if they so wish.
"All departments, boards and corporations/other institutions of the Government of Karnataka shall act as per the said order," it added.
Citing the union government's instructions in a letter written in 1990, the department in its order said that based on the letter, the state government issued a circular in 2013, allowing scheduled caste persons converting to Buddhism to obtain SC certificates.
In 2016, the Union government again asked chief secretaries of all states to ensure that scheduled caste people who become Buddhists get SC certificates.
"Although a circular was issued, several organisations have petitioned the government seeking clarity and an appropriate order on this," the social welfare department said.
Buddhists come under the religious minorities list in Karnataka along with Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, and Jains.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
