New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday affirmed that individuals who convert to Christianity and practice the faith lose their Scheduled Caste (SC) status. The ruling upholds a previous decision by the Andhra Pradesh High Court, reinforcing that SC benefits apply strictly to specific religious groups.
The Legal Mandate
A Bench of Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice N.V. Anjaria ruled that the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, creates an “absolute” bar. Under this law, the state only recognizes members of the Scheduled Caste if they profess Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism.
Key observations from the Bench:
-
Immediate Loss: Conversion to any religion outside the three specified results in the “immediate and complete loss” of SC status.
-
No Dual Identity: A person cannot simultaneously practice another religion and claim SC protections.
-
The “Pastor” Evidence: The court noted the appellant had served as a pastor for over a decade, leaving “no room for doubt” regarding his religious identity.
Origin of the Case
The case reached the apex court after the Andhra Pradesh High Court ruled in April 2025 that a Christian pastor could not invoke the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The High Court emphasized that because the caste system is “alien to Christianity,” those who convert cannot claim the legal protections or status reserved for the Scheduled Caste community. Since the petitioner never reconverted to his original faith or sought re-acceptance into the Madiga community, the court maintained his status as a Christian.
