Conversion To Religion Other Than Hinduism, Buddhism Or Sikhism Results In Loss Of Scheduled Caste Status : Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has recently held that a person who converts to a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism loses Scheduled Caste (SC) status and cannot be treated as a SC for constitutional or statutory purposes.
Core holding of the Court
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The Court ruled that only individuals professing Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism can be recognised as members of a Scheduled Caste.
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Conversion to any other religion (such as Christianity, Islam, Jainism, etc.) results in immediate and complete loss of SC status, irrespective of birth‑linked caste.
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The bench (Justices P. K. Mishra and N. V. Anjaria) upheld an Andhra Pradesh High Court order that a Dalit who converts to Christianity and actively practises that faith cannot claim SC status or protection under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Legal basis invoked
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The Court relied on the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, especially Clause 3, which restricts SC status to followers of Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism.
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The Court described the bar as “absolute”: once a person professes a religion outside these three, he or she ceases to be a SC, even if the social reality of caste‑based discrimination persists.
Practical implications for advocates
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Such a convert cannot claim SC category benefits in reservations (jobs, education, promotions) or in quotas under other SC‑specific schemes.
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For criminal‑law practice, a person converting from SC to another faith may not be able to invoke the SC/ST (POA) Act against alleged atrocities, unless the Court or legislature carves out a specific exception.
