New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has ruled that Dalits who convert to Islam or Christianity lose their Scheduled Caste status and all related benefits under existing laws. The bench of Justice P K Mishra and Justice Manmohan stated that the rule applies immediately from the moment of conversion.
The court clarified that SC status remains restricted to followers of Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism under the Constitution Scheduled Castes Order, 1950. It held that no individual professing any other religion qualifies as a member of a Scheduled Caste.
The judgment stressed that benefits linked to SC status, including reservation and legal protection, cease after conversion. The bench stated that a person cannot follow one religion while claiming caste based benefits tied to another, calling the two positions incompatible within the constitutional framework.
The court, however, allowed limited relief for those who return to Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism. It said such individuals may regain SC status if they receive acceptance within their original caste community and provide clear proof.
The ruling upheld a 2025 Andhra Pradesh High Court decision involving a Dalit Christian pastor from the Madiga community. The High Court had ruled that caste does not apply within Christianity and denied protection under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act.
The verdict has renewed debate among Muslim and Christian groups who seek equal access to SC benefits for Dalits after conversion. The court reiterated that any claim to SC status must rest on clear and verifiable evidence.
