Scheduled Caste status only for Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs: Supreme Court

In the Chinthada Anand vs. State of Andhra Pradesh & Ors. case, the Supreme Court of India on 24 March clarified the legal position regarding the eligibility of individuals for Scheduled Caste (SC) status after religious conversion.

 Key Highlights of the Judgment

• The Court held that a person professing any religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism cannot be considered a Scheduled Caste.
• Conversion to religions such as Christianity or Islam leads to immediate and complete loss of SC status, irrespective of birth-based caste identity.
• The ruling is based on Clause 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, issued under Article 341.

Constitutional & Legal Basis

• Article 341 of the Constitution of India empowers the President to notify SC communities.
• Article 366(24) of the Constitution of India defines Scheduled Castes as those specified under Article 341.
• Clause 3 of the 1950 Order restricts SC status to:
  • Hindus (original provision)
  • Sikhs (added in 1956)
  • Buddhists (added in 1990)
• The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 follows the same definition.

 Case Background

• The case involved a petitioner born into a Hindu Madiga (SC) community who later converted to Christianity and became a pastor.
• He filed a complaint under the SC/ST Act alleging caste-based abuse and violence.
• The Andhra Pradesh High Court (April 2025) quashed the case, stating:
  • The petitioner could not claim SC status after conversion.
  • Christianity does not recognise caste hierarchy.
• The Supreme Court upheld this reasoning.

 Clarification on Scheduled Tribes (STs)

• The Court distinguished SCs from STs:
  • Religion is not a determining factor for Scheduled Tribe status.

However, continuity of tribal identity depends on community practices, customs, and social recognition.

Sources: TH & IE