SC dismisses review plea, reaffirms status ends on conversion to Christianity
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New Delhi, July 28: The Supreme Court has dismissed a review petition challenging its March 2026 judgment that held a person loses Scheduled Caste (SC) status upon converting to any religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism.
A Bench comprising Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Manmohan said it found no error in its earlier verdict that warranted interference.
"We have gone through the Review Petition and perused the judgment dated 24.03.2026 which has been sought to be reviewed. There is no error apparent on the record," the Bench observed.
The Court also rejected the review petitioner's request for an oral hearing.
March Verdict Attains Finality
In its earlier ruling, the Court had held that a person who converts to Christianity or any religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism immediately ceases to enjoy Scheduled Caste status under the Constitution and related laws.
However, the Bench clarified that a person who later reconverts to Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism may regain SC status, provided certain conditions are fulfilled.
- They were originally born into a caste notified as a Scheduled Caste.
- They have genuinely reconverted to Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism and completely renounced the religion previously professed.
- They have been accepted back into their original Scheduled Caste community.
The Court made it clear that failure to satisfy even one of these conditions would defeat the claim for restoration of Scheduled Caste status.
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Case Background
The case originated in Andhra Pradesh, where a man born into a Scheduled Caste later converted to Christianity and became a pastor. He filed an FIR under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, alleging that he was abused by his caste name and criminally intimidated.
The accused challenged the FIR before the Andhra Pradesh High Court, arguing that the complainant, having embraced Christianity, was no longer entitled to Scheduled Caste status or the protections available under the SC/ST Act.
Accepting the argument, the High Court quashed the FIR, holding that conversion to Christianity disentitles a person from claiming protections available to Scheduled Castes.
The complainant subsequently approached the Supreme Court, which upheld the High Court's decision in its March 2026 judgment.
Court's Reasoning
The Supreme Court relied on the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, which restricts Scheduled Caste status to persons professing Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism.
The Bench observed that a person professing Christianity cannot claim the benefits, protections, or reservations available to Scheduled Castes under the Constitution or the SC/ST Act.
Clarifying the scope of Clause 3 of the 1950 Order, the Court held that the restriction is absolute.