March 24, New Delhi – The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday upheld a ruling by the Andhra Pradesh High Court, stating that once an individual converts to Christianity and actively professes and practices the faith, they can no longer be considered a member of the Scheduled Caste community.
The Court ruled that only individuals belonging to Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist faiths can claim Scheduled Caste status, and conversion to any other faith, such as Christianity, will result in the loss of Scheduled Caste status.
The ruling came in response to an appeal by Pastor Chinthada Anand against a May 2025 ruling by the Andhra Pradesh High Court. He alleged that Akkala Ramireddy had engaged in caste-based abuse, leading to the registration of an FIR under the SC/ST Act by the police.
The bench further noted that the Constitution (Scheduled Caste) Order, 1950, unequivocally clarifies this position, emphasizing that the restrictions under the Order are absolute.
Photo: File/ A general view of the Supreme Court of India standing tall under a clear sky, in New Delhi, Monday, January 05, 2025.