A member of the Scheduled Castes who converts to another faith, apart from Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism, loses her/his SC status and cannot enjoy the protections guaranteed under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday.
Upholding the Andhra Pradesh High Court verdict, the bench of Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice NV Anjaria ordered that converting to the Christian faith would entail losing SC status.
The Court was hearing an appeal by pastor Chinthada Anand, who challenged a May 2025 ruling of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Anand had invoked provisions of the SC/ST Act after he was allegedly abused to caste slurs. Though an FIR was filed in the case, the accused persons moved the High Court seeking quashing of the complaint on the grounds that he had converted to Christianity and was a pastor, thus not entitled to SC/ST Act protections.
The High Court quashed the complaint and held that Christianity doesn’t heed the caste system and since Anand had converted, he couldn’t invoke the SC/ST Act.
The Supreme Court bench said the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, Clause 3 restricts SC status to Hindus, Sikhs or Buddhists.
Any person who as per Clause 3 is not a Scheduled Caste cannot claim benefits, protection or reservation intended for the Scheduled Castes, the bench said.
The Court said since Anand was a Christian pastor holding prayer meetings at the time of the alleged offence, he could not invoke statutory protection.
Dismissing Anand’s SC certificate, the Court said holding the document does not confer entitlement to SC benefits after conversion. Its validity should be examined though it doesn’t overrule Clause 3 of the 1950 Order.
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