Converts to Christianity cannot claim Scheduled Caste status: Supreme Court

Apex court upholds Andhra Pradesh High Court's order; says no person who professes a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism can be regarded as a member of a Scheduled Caste

The Supreme Court has upheld the Andhra Pradesh High Court's order that once an individual converts to Christianity and actively professes and practices the religion, he/she cannot be regarded as a member of the Scheduled Caste community.

The apex court held that no person who professes a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism can be regarded as a member of a Scheduled Caste. Conversion to any other religion results in the immediate and complete loss of Scheduled Caste status, the court said.

The court noted that the Constitution (Scheduled Caste) Order, 1950, made this clear, and the bar under this order was absolute. Conversion to any religion not specified in Clause 3 of the 1950 order results in immediate loss of Schedule Caste status, regardless of birth, the court clarified, according to a Live Law report.

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