Supreme Court Reaffirms Bar After Religious Conversion
KRC TIMES National Bureau
In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India has reiterated that Scheduled Caste (SC) status is confined to individuals professing Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism. The Court held that conversion to other religions, including Christianity, leads to the loss of SC status under the existing legal framework.
The judgment came while hearing an appeal filed by pastor Chinthada Anand, who had alleged caste-based abuse and sought protection under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Upholding the decision of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, the apex court observed that Anand had been practising Christianity for several years and had not reconverted to his original religion.
The Bench made it clear that mere possession of an SC certificate does not override the legal consequences of religious conversion. It ruled that individuals who have converted to religions outside the specified list are not entitled to protections under the SC/ST Act.
The ruling reinforces the position laid down in the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, which links SC recognition to certain religions. While the verdict maintains legal consistency, it also brings back a wider debate on whether caste-based discrimination continues across religions, and if the law needs to evolve to reflect that reality.
