The Supreme Court on Tuesday (March 24, 2026) held that a pastor from the Madiga community in Andhra Pradesh could not claim Scheduled Caste status after converting to a religion not covered under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, which the court says imposes a religion bar that is “absolute”.
Upholding a judgment of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, the apex court ruled that a person professing any religion other than Hinduism, Buddhism, or Sikhism cannot be recognised as a member of a Scheduled Caste and is therefore ineligible for the benefits and protections extended to SC communities.
Supreme Court on SC status for religious converts
A Bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan held that conversion to a religion outside those specified in the 1950 Order results in the “immediate and complete loss of Scheduled Caste status from the moment of conversion, irrespective of birth”. It said that a convert who does not profess Hinduism, Buddhism, or Sikhism as listed in Clause 3 of the Order cannot claim any statutory benefit, protection, reservation, or entitlement available to members of the Scheduled Castes.
The judgment further clarified that a person claiming to have reconverted to Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism must cumulatively and conclusively establish proof of earlier caste status, provide credible and unimpeachable evidence of bona fide reconversion, and demonstrate acceptance and assimilation by members of the original caste community.
The court also observed that Christianity, by its theological foundations, does not recognise or incorporate the institution of caste. It held that once a person ceases to be a Scheduled Caste member by virtue of religious conversion, the resulting loss of status entails the automatic termination of all statutory benefits, protections, reservations, preferences, and entitlements flowing from such membership, including protections under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The judgment examined the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, noting that unlike the Scheduled Castes Order, it does not prescribe religious exclusion. Justice Mishra said that eligibility for benefits under the Scheduled Tribes Order depended on whether a person continued to belong to a particular tribe “in substance”.
Centre’s stand in the issue
Meanwhile, the Union government has relied on the 1950 Scheduled Castes Order to argue that Dalit Muslims and Christians must continue to be excluded, citing the “foreign origin” of these religions in contrast to Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism.
Petitioners seeking Scheduled Caste status for Dalit Christians and Muslims have argued that the 1950 Order has been amended over time, first to include Sikhism in the 1950s and later Buddhism in 1990. They have pointed out that the amendment to include Buddhism was prompted by large-scale conversions in certain regions following Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s call.
In October 2022, the Centre constituted a Commission of Inquiry headed by former Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan to examine whether Scheduled Caste status could be extended to converts to Islam and Christianity. After multiple extensions, the Commission is scheduled to submit its report in April this year.
Congress condemns the ruling
Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala on Wednesday (March 25, 2026) said the judgment had caused “deep consternation, disquiet and fear” among economically weaker sections of minority communities. He questioned how a two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court could decide the issue without referring it to a larger Bench, and asked why the Union government had not informed the court that the matter was pending adjudication before a three-judge Bench.
Christian organisations and civil rights activists have criticised the verdict, calling it a setback to constitutional guarantees of equality and religious freedom. They have urged the Centre to seek a review of the judgment and introduce legal and policy safeguards for Dalit Christians, warning that the ruling could undermine social justice and democratic values.
Hindu outfits welcome the verdict
The Vishva Hindu Parishad welcomed the ruling on Wednesday (March 25, 2026), describing it as one that strengthened the spirit of the Constitution, social justice, and the rule of law. In a statement, VHP joint general secretary Surendra Jain said the verdict was in line with constitutional principles and would promote social harmony, transparency, and justice. He added that the organisation would prepare a list of those who had converted and ensure that benefits were restored to those deemed eligible.
The Akhil Bhartiya Sant Samiti also welcomed the judgment on Tuesday (March 24, 2026) and urged the Centre to bar converts from accessing reservation benefits. Samiti national general secretary Swami Jitendranand Saraswati said the decision put an end to what he described as foreign-sponsored efforts to undermine Sanatan Dharma.
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren welcomed the verdict on Tuesday (March 24, 2026), stating that it was aimed at protecting vulnerable communities from religious conversion. He alleged that those facilitating conversions often concealed facts and used inducements, compulsion, or misinformation.
Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao termed the ruling a “historic victory for the spirit of the Constitution”. He said that Scheduled Caste reservations, as envisioned by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, were intended for the social uplift of marginalised sections within the Hindu fold.
Published – March 27, 2026 09:05 am IST
