Supreme Court Verdict on Religious Conversion

The Supreme Court has clarified that an individual loses their Scheduled Caste (SC) status upon converting to another religion. It stated that those who convert to religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism, or Sikhism do not fall under the SC category. Upholding a verdict previously delivered by the Andhra Pradesh High Court, the Bench delivered this final judgment.

The Court observed that, in accordance with the 1950 Order of the Constitution, if an individual adopts a religion other than those specified in Clause 3, their SC status is automatically revoked. It further clarified that seeking to retain SC rights while simultaneously having converted to another religion is contrary to constitutional principles. The Court noted that, in this specific case, there was evidence indicating that the petitioner had converted to Christianity and was serving as a pastor.

The Supreme Court stated that strict conditions must be adhered to in order to return to one's original religion. It stipulated that the individual must prove their belonging to the specific caste, provide evidence demonstrating that they have completely renounced the converted religion, and furnish confirmation that the said caste community has formally re-accepted them. This verdict is expected to have a significant impact on issues concerning religious conversion and reservation rights.