The Supreme Court on [Tuesday] clarified that a person who converts to Christianity or any religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism cannot be recognised as a member of a Scheduled Caste. The top court stated that individuals professing religions outside these three are not eligible to claim Scheduled Caste status under the existing legal framework.
The court further emphasised that once a person converts to another religion, there is an immediate and complete loss of Scheduled Caste status. It also observed that an individual cannot simultaneously profess and practise more than one religion for the purpose of claiming such benefits.
Referring to the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, the bench noted that the restriction is “absolute” and leaves no scope for exceptions. “No statutory benefit, protection, or reservation can be claimed by a person who is not deemed to be a Scheduled Caste member under the order,” the court stated.
“Source: Supreme Court of India judgment; Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950”