New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has ruled that a person will lose Scheduled Caste status if they convert to a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism. The court said this rule follows the existing law and applies even if the person had earlier been recognised as a member of a Scheduled Caste.
The judgment came while hearing a case from Andhra Pradesh. A man who had converted to Christianity and was working as a pastor had filed a complaint under the law meant to protect Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes from atrocities. He claimed he was targeted because of his caste background.
However, the court found that since he had converted to Christianity and was practising the faith, he could no longer claim Scheduled Caste status. As a result, the protections under the SC and ST law did not apply to him.
The court explained that Scheduled Caste status is linked to specific religions under the Constitution. At present, only Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists are included in this category. People who convert to other religions are not covered under this provision.
The judges also made it clear that holding an old caste certificate does not guarantee continued benefits after conversion. What matters is the religion a person follows at the time when legal protection is sought.
This ruling has once again brought attention to the ongoing debate over whether Dalits who convert to Christianity or Islam should be allowed to retain Scheduled Caste status. Many activists argue that caste based discrimination continues even after conversion, but the law has not been changed so far.
The court’s decision reinforces the current legal position and is expected to influence similar cases in the future.