The Supreme Court has ruled that a person professing a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism cannot be recognised as a member of a Scheduled Caste (SC). The Court clarified that conversion to any other religion results in the loss of SC status.
A bench comprising Justices P. K. Mishra and N. V. Anjaria held that individuals who convert and actively practise another religion are no longer entitled to claim the benefits reserved for Scheduled Castes.
The apex court upheld the earlier judgment of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which had ruled that individuals who convert to Christianity and profess the faith cannot retain their Scheduled Caste status.