New Delhi, March 24: The Supreme Court has delivered a significant ruling regarding religious conversion. The court clarified that if an individual belongs to a Scheduled Caste (SC) and converts from Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism to another religion, they will not retain their SC status.
This decision was made by a bench comprising Justice P.K. Mishra and Justice N.V. Anjaria. The court stated that the SC status is constitutionally limited to those who adhere to Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism. Therefore, if a person converts to Christianity or any other religion and actively practices it, they will not be entitled to the benefits associated with the SC category.
The Supreme Court upheld a previous ruling by the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which stated that individuals who convert to Christianity cannot maintain their Scheduled Caste identity and will not receive the legal protections associated with it.
The court also emphasized that a person’s social and religious identity changes after conversion, directly impacting their legal status. Based on this reasoning, the court concluded that special rights and protections linked to Scheduled Caste status, such as those provided under the SC/ST Act, automatically cease after conversion.
This ruling is considered crucial in cases where individuals have claimed SC rights after converting to another religion. The Supreme Court’s decision has now clarified the legal standing on this issue, offering guidance for future cases.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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