Schedule Caste status will be lost once converted from Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism to other religions, rules Supreme Court

A bench comprising Justices PK Mishra and Manmohan upheld an order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, ruling that conversion to any religion outside the three specified would result in the loss of SC status.

The bench observed, as quoted by Live Law: “No statutory benefit, protection or reservation or entitlement under the Constitution or enactment of Parliament or state legislature can be claimed by or extended to any person who, by operation of Clause 3, is not deemed to be a member of the Scheduled Caste.

"This bar is absolute and admits no exception. A person cannot simultaneously profess and practice a religion other than the one specified in Clause 3 and claim membership of the Scheduled Caste.”

The ruling came in a case involving a man who had converted to Christianity and became a pastor. He had filed a complaint under the SC/ST Act alleging assault.

However, the accused challenged the case, arguing that the complainant, having converted and actively practising Christianity, was not entitled to protection under the Act.

The High Court had earlier quashed the charges, observing that the caste system does not exist in Christianity, a view now upheld by the Supreme Court.