Only Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists can claim Scheduled Castes status: Supreme Court
On March 24, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that only individuals professing Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism qualify for Scheduled Caste (SC) status under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950.
A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and NV Anjaria upheld an Andhra Pradesh High Court order in the case of Pastor Chinthada Anand, who had converted to Christianity. The court held that conversion to any other religion results in the immediate and complete loss of SC status, barring access to constitutional benefits, reservations, or protections under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. This absolute bar admits no exceptions, even if a caste certificate exists, as active practice of another faith disqualifies the individual.
The ruling reaffirms Clause 3 of the 1950 Order, which explicitly limits SC membership to Hindus, Sikhs (added 1956), and Buddhists (added 1990). A person cannot simultaneously claim SC benefits while professing another religion, resolving disputes over converted individuals invoking SC protections.
