Supreme Court concludes only Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists can claim Scheduled Caste status

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (March 24, 2026) confirmed an Andhra Pradesh High Court decision that only Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists can claim to be a member of a Scheduled Caste community.

A person who converts to any other religion, including Christianity, cannot seek the benefits due to a Scheduled Caste community member.

A Bench headed by Justice P.K. Mishra, in a decision, invoked Clause 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Caste) Order, 1950, which mandates that “no person who professes a religion different from Hinduism shall be deemed to be a member of a Scheduled Caste”. The court said the restriction under the clause was absolute.

The court found that conversion to any religion not specified in Clause 3 of the 1950 order by a Scheduled Caste member would lead to the loss of the reserved category status. A Scheduled Caste person who converts to Christianity can not claim violation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

“No statutory benefit, protection or reservation or entitlement under the Constitution or enactment of Parliament or State legislature can be claimed by or extended to any person who by operation of Clause 3 is not deemed to be a member of the Scheduled Caste. This bar is absolute and admits no exception. A person cannot simultaneously profess and practice a religion other than the one specified in Clause 3 and claim membership of the Scheduled Caste,” the apex court said.

The decision came in the case of a person, who converted to Christianity and acted as a pastor, but had filed a case under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against certain persons who had allegedly subjected him to assault.