REGULATORY · INDIA
Supreme Court bars SC status for religious converts
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The Supreme Court ruled that converts to religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism, or Sikhism cannot be recognised as Scheduled Castes.
Why it matters
The Court held that the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 imposes an absolute religion bar: conversion outside Hinduism, Buddhism, or Sikhism causes immediate and complete loss of Scheduled Caste status irrespective of birth. Reconverts must cumulatively prove prior caste, bona fide reconversion, and acceptance by the original caste community to regain eligibility, restricting automatic access to statutory benefits.
Implications
- · Conversion to Christianity or Islam terminates entitlement to reservations, statutory protections, and preferences for Scheduled Castes
- · Protections under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act will no longer apply to persons who have converted outside the three specified
Who is affected
- · Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims
- · State governments and reservation administrators
- · Legal practitioners handling SC status and reservation cases
Source
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