New Delhi, March 24: The Supreme Court has given an important warning to those who convert. The Supreme Court has given an important order in a case regarding the application filed by a converted Dalit person for Dalit status. The Supreme Court has said that if a Dalit person converts to foreign religions such as Christianity or other religions, he will not retain his Scheduled Caste status. The Supreme Court has ruled by a two-judge bench that if he converts to other religions except Hindu, Sikh or Buddhism, his Scheduled Caste status will not remain. The Supreme Court has upheld the Andhra Pradesh High Court verdict in this regard.
Limited to Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist religions
A bench of Justices P.K. Mishra and N.V. Anjaria has given this important order. Only persons belonging to Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist religions can get Scheduled Caste status. The Supreme Court has ruled that a person who converts to any other religion, such as Christianity, loses his Scheduled Caste status.
The bench said in its order that a Dalit person who converts to Christianity cannot claim violation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (SC/ST Act).
The judgment came on an appeal filed by a priest named Chintada Anand against the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s May 2025 verdict. Anand alleged that he faced caste discrimination and abuse from Akkala Ramireddy and others. He filed a complaint under the SC/ST Act against the abusers. The police had also registered an FIR.
Inter-caste marriage, caste does not change even after conversion: High Court
Anand lost his SC status after converting to Christianity. Therefore, the Andhra Pradesh High Court had ruled that he could not get protection under the SC/ST Act. Now, the Supreme Court has upheld the same verdict.
The court held that Anand, who converted to Christianity, which does not discriminate on the basis of caste, had no SC certificate, as it would cancel his SC status.