Andhra Pradesh The Supreme Court of India has ruled that individuals who convert to religions other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism cannot claim Scheduled Caste (SC) status or seek protection under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Delivering its judgment on Tuesday, the bench observed that conversion to any religion outside the three specified faiths results in the immediate loss of Scheduled Caste status, irrespective of a person’s birth.
Reference to 1950 Presidential Order
The court underscored that the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 clearly restricts SC status to individuals professing Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism. It noted that Clause 3 of the Order imposes an absolute bar on recognising Scheduled Caste status for those who adopt other religions.
“Any person who embraces a religion not specified in the Order ceases to be a member of a Scheduled Caste,” the bench stated, reaffirming the legal position.
Andhra Pradesh High Court Order Upheld
The apex court upheld a ruling of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which had dismissed a case filed under the SC/ST Act by a man who had converted to Christianity.
The petitioner, Chintada Anand, had accused certain individuals of assault and sought protection under the SC/ST Act. However, the accused challenged the case on the grounds that Anand, having converted to Christianity and actively practising the faith as a pastor, was no longer eligible for SC status.
The High Court had quashed the FIR, ruling that Anand’s conversion nullified his claim to Scheduled Caste protections. It further observed that retaining an SC certificate does not override the legal consequences of conversion to a religion that does not recognise caste distinctions.
Court Observations on Conversion and Status
Affirming the High Court’s findings, the Supreme Court noted that there was no evidence to suggest that the petitioner had reconverted to his original faith or been readmitted into his caste community.
The bench pointed out that Anand had continued practising Christianity for over a decade, including conducting regular Sunday prayers, reinforcing the conclusion that he had fully embraced the new faith.
Legal and Social Implications
The ruling reiterates a long-standing legal principle that Scheduled Caste status is intrinsically linked to specific religious frameworks as defined under the 1950 Presidential Order. It also clarifies that conversion to religions outside this framework disqualifies individuals from availing statutory protections designed for Scheduled Castes.
The judgment is expected to have significant implications for cases involving caste-based protections and religious conversion, particularly under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
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