Supreme Court Verdict: Only Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs Can Claim Scheduled Caste Status.

The Supreme Court stated on Tuesday that only individuals affiliated with the Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist religions are eligible to receive Scheduled Caste (SC) status. If an individual converts to Christianity or any other religion, they will forfeit their Scheduled Caste status.

Delivering the verdict, a bench comprising Justice P.K. Mishra and Justice N.V. Anjaria observed that a Dalit individual who embraces Christianity cannot claim any protection or benefits available under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

This judgment was delivered in response to a petition filed by Chinthada, challenging a May 2025 ruling by the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Chinthada Anand, who had converted to Christianity and subsequently became a pastor, had filed a petition alleging that he faced caste-based discrimination and abuse from certain individuals, including Akkala Ramireddy.

**Supreme Court has previously stated: Converting for the sake of reservation benefits amounts to a fraud on the Constitution**

In a 1985 case titled *Soosai vs. Union of India*, the Supreme Court clarified that if an individual converts to Christianity and subsequently returns to the Hindu fold, they would require credible evidence and acceptance from their community to regain Scheduled Caste status. The Supreme Court characterized religious conversion undertaken solely for the purpose of availing benefits as a "fraud on the Constitution."

**Chinthada alleged: He was subjected to casteist slurs**

This case originates from Anakapalli in the Visakhapatnam district, where Chinthada—originally belonging to a Scheduled Caste (the Mala community)—converted to Christianity and became a pastor. Some time later, Chinthada alleged that a man named Akkala Rami Reddy, a resident of Kothapalem in the Guntur district, had subjected him to casteist slurs.

Chinthada had registered a case under the SC/ST Act. However, when the matter reached the High Court, the court declined to hear the case. Consequently, Chinthada filed a petition in the Supreme Court.

During the investigation into the case, it was revealed that Chinthada's Scheduled Caste certificate had been cancelled on account of his conversion to Christianity. Chinthada has been working as a pastor at a church for about 10 years.