India's Supreme Court rules converts to non‑Hindu/Buddhist/Sikh faiths ineligible for Scheduled Caste status
Reservation officers must exclude converts to non‑Hindu/Buddhist/Sikh faiths from SC quotas
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India's Supreme Court held that persons who convert to religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism or Sikhism are disqualified from recognition as Scheduled Castes and therefore ineligible for reservation benefits, upholding the Andhra Pradesh High Court judgment.
Why it matters
The Court characterised the religion bar in the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 as absolute, removing scope to treat adherents of other faiths as SC. State authorities responsible for caste lists and reservation allocations cannot recognise such converts for SC protections or quota eligibility.
Implications
- — State caste-certification authorities, university admissions committees, and public-sector reservation cells must immediately refuse SC certificates and quota allocations to persons who have professed religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism, or Sikhism — claims by such converts are ineligible for reservation benefits.
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Source
View on The Hindu