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Sign in to searchSupreme Court on Loss of Scheduled Caste Status after Religious Conversion
The recent Supreme Court ruling has reaffirmed that conversion to religions other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism results in the loss of Scheduled Caste (SC) status. This judgment is rooted in the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, particularly Clause 3, which explicitly restricts SC recognition to individuals professing these specified religions. The Court held that this exclusion is absolute, meaning that no statutory benefits—including protection under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act—can be extended to individuals who have converted and continue to practice another religion.
The case arose when a person who had converted to Christianity and was functioning as a pastor sought protection under the SC/ST Act. The Court upheld the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s decision, emphasizing that caste, as a social institution, is not recognized in Christianity in the same way as in Hindu society. Therefore, extending caste-based protections after conversion would contradict the constitutional framework.
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Supreme Court reaffirms loss of Scheduled Caste status after religious conversion. Ruling clarifies SC benefits restricted to Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism under the 1950 Constitutional Order.
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