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In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has clarified that individuals who convert to another religion cannot claim Scheduled Caste status or legal protections under the SC/ST Act, reaffirming religion-linked eligibility.
Conversion to any other religion automatically ends eligibility for such classification
New Delhi: In a significant judgment, the Supreme Court of India has ruled that individuals who convert to another religion, such as Christianity, will no longer be entitled to Scheduled Caste (SC) status or its associated benefits.
The court emphasised that SC recognition is constitutionally limited to individuals belonging to Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist communities. Conversion to any other religion automatically ends eligibility for such classification.
The bench made it clear that a person who has adopted Christianity and actively follows the faith cannot claim reservation benefits available to Scheduled Castes. This includes access to quotas in education and employment.
The ruling underlines that the SC category is tied to specific religious and social contexts, which are not considered applicable once a person changes their faith.
The court also addressed legal protections under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, stating that individuals who have converted out of the eligible religions cannot invoke its provisions.
It noted that since Christianity does not formally recognise caste hierarchies in the same way, the basis for extending such protections does not remain valid after conversion.
The ruling came while hearing a petition filed by pastor Chinthada Anand, who had challenged an earlier decision of the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
The High Court had quashed a First Information Report (FIR) filed under the SC/ST Act, observing that Anand, having converted to Christianity, could not claim protection under the law. The complaint alleged caste-based abuse by individuals in his village.
Upholding the High Court’s view, the Supreme Court reiterated that an SC certificate remains valid only as long as the individual belongs to one of the religions recognised under the constitutional framework.
This judgment is expected to serve as an important precedent in similar cases, offering clarity on how religious conversion affects caste-based entitlements and legal safeguards.
