In a significant ruling on caste status and religious conversion, the Supreme Court on March 24 upheld the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s decision that a person who converts to Christianity cannot claim Scheduled Caste (SC) status or protections under the SC/ST Act.
Background of the Case
The case arose from a complaint filed by a pastor from Pittalavanipalem village, who alleged assault, threats, and caste-based abuse. An FIR was registered under provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Indian Penal Code.
Read also:- No Second Chance After SLP Dismissal: Supreme Court Rejects Lamba Exports’ Recall Plea
The accused challenged the FIR before the High Court, arguing that the complainant had converted to Christianity and was therefore not entitled to SC protections. In April 2025, the High Court quashed the case. The pastor then approached the Supreme Court.
A Bench of Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Manmohan examined whether a converted individual could still claim SC status.
Referring to the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, the Court clarified that only persons professing Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism can be recognised as Scheduled Castes.
“The bar is absolute and admits no exception,” the bench observed. “No person who professes a religion other than those specified can claim Scheduled Caste status.”
The Court further noted that the petitioner had been actively practicing Christianity and serving as a pastor for over a decade.
“These facts leave no room for doubt that he continued to remain a Christian on the date of the incident,” the bench said.
Read also:- No Right to Claim Vacant Post from Old Merit List: Supreme Court Sets Aside Karnataka HC Order
On the argument that the complainant still held a caste certificate, the Court stated that non-cancellation of such a certificate does not restore SC status after conversion. It clarified that disputes over certificates must be addressed under the relevant state law.
Concluding that the complainant had lost his Scheduled Caste status upon conversion to Christianity, the Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s order quashing the FIR and dismissed the appeal.
Case Title: Chinthada Anand v State of Andhra Pradesh & Ors.
Case Number: SLP (Crl) No. 9231/2025
Judges: Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, Justice Manmohan
Decision Date: March 24, 2026
