The Supreme Court has reaffirmed that the Scheduled Caste (SC) status is restricted to individuals professing Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism, and that conversion to any other religion results in the loss of this status, along with associated legal protections.
Delivering its judgment, a bench comprising Justices PK Mishra and NV Anjaria held that a person who converts to a different religion, such as Christianity, cannot claim SC status or seek protection under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The court made it clear that religious identity is a determining factor for eligibility, and conversion effectively nullifies the recognition granted under the SC category.
The ruling came while hearing an appeal filed by Chinthada Anand, a pastor from Andhra Pradesh, who had alleged caste-based abuse and filed a case under the SC/ST Act. However, the accused argued that Anand, having converted to Christianity and actively practising as a pastor, was no longer eligible for SC protections.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court had earlier set aside the case, stating that once a person converts to a religion where caste distinctions are not formally recognised, they lose their SC status. It also observed that merely possessing an SC certificate does not override the effect of conversion.
Upholding this view, the Supreme Court noted that Anand had been functioning as a pastor for several years and had not reconverted to his original religion or been readmitted into his caste community. Based on these facts, the court concluded that he continued to identify as a Christian at the time of the alleged incident and therefore could not claim SC status.
The judgment reinforces the long-standing legal position that eligibility for Scheduled Caste classification is tied not only to birth but also to continued adherence to specific religions recognised under the constitutional framework. Conversion, the court emphasised, is a decisive factor that alters this eligibility and the corresponding legal safeguards.
