SC denies SC/ST status after conversion to Christianity

03/25/2026 | 08:24 AM Sai Shankar Rapolu

Supreme Court of India building exterior representing landmark judgment on SC ST status and religious conversion

Supreme Court upholds SC status bar after conversion to Christianity

The Supreme Court has clarified that individuals who convert to Christianity cannot claim Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe status, stating that the religion does not recognise a caste system.

The ruling came during hearings related to cases filed under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, where the court examined the eligibility of converted individuals seeking legal protection under the law.

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Bench backs Andhra Pradesh High Court ruling

A bench comprising Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice N V Anjaria upheld the earlier decision of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on the issue of caste status after religious conversion.

The court reiterated that constitutional provisions governing Scheduled Caste status are specific and cannot be extended beyond defined religious categories.

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Protection under SC/ST Act denied after conversion

The bench held that a person who has converted to Christianity and is working as a pastor cannot claim protection under the SC/ST Act. The court underlined that the applicability of the law is linked to recognised caste identities within specific religions.

It noted that once a person changes religion, the basis for claiming caste-linked protections under the Act ceases to exist.

Reference to Constitutional Order of 1950

The court referred to the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, which limits Scheduled Caste recognition to individuals belonging to Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist religions.

The judgment stated that individuals belonging to religions outside this framework are not eligible for SC or ST status under the existing legal structure.

Context of legal interpretation

The ruling provides clarity on the intersection of religion and caste-based legal protections. It also reinforces the legal position that caste recognition under the Constitution is tied to specific religious contexts.

The judgment is expected to guide lower courts in handling similar cases related to conversion and eligibility under the SC/ST Act.