PRINCIPAL, GUNTUR MEDICAL COLLEGE, GUNTUR vs Y.MOHAN RAO

The Supreme Court held that under Article 15(4) and Article 29(2) of the Constitution, the State can make special provisions for Scheduled Castes without requiring membership by birth. The Court found that the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, does not stipulate that a person must be born a Hindu or Sikh to be considered a member of a Scheduled Caste, but must profess such a religion at the time of application. The Court dismissed the appeal, affirming that the note requiring birth membership was void and that conversion does not automatically strip a person of their caste membership, depending on the caste's structure and rules.