Converted Christians can't claim SC status, but Hindus and Sikhs can: Supreme Court
India Today
A bench of Justices PK Mishra and NV Anjaria further ruled that a Dalit who converts to Christianity cannot invoke provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Individuals professing Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism are eligible for Scheduled Caste (SC) status and conversion to any other religion, including Christianity, results in the loss of such status, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday.
A bench of Justices PK Mishra and NV Anjaria further ruled that a Dalit who converts to Christianity cannot invoke provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The ruling came on an appeal filed by a pastor, Chinthada Anand, who challenged a May 2025 judgment of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, alleging that he faced caste-based discrimination and abuse, LiveLaw reported.
Delivering its judgment, the Supreme Court said, “No person who professes a religion other than Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist shall be a member of the Scheduled Caste,” the Supreme Court said, adding that conversion leads to the loss of SC status.
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