New Delhi, March 24 The Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti welcomed the Supreme Court's ruling on Tuesday that only Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists can be recognized as Scheduled Castes, and urged the Centre to prevent converts from benefiting from reservation policies.
"We welcome the SC decision and thank it for stopping attempts, sponsored by foreign entities, to undermine Sanatan Dharma through such benefits. The organization extended its heartfelt congratulations to the apex court for this decision," said Samiti national general secretary Swami Jitendranand Saraswati.
The Supreme Court said on Tuesday that no person professing a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism can be considered a member of a Scheduled Caste.
A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and N V Anjaria, upholding an order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, said that a person belonging to a Scheduled Caste community loses their SC status immediately and completely upon converting to another religion.
"No statutory benefit, protection, or reservation under the Constitution or the enactment of Parliament or state legislature can be claimed by or extended to any person who, by operation of clause 3, is not deemed to be a member of the Scheduled Caste."
"This restriction is absolute and admits no exceptions. A person cannot simultaneously profess and practice a religion other than the one specified in clause 3 and claim membership of the Scheduled Caste," the bench said.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Saraswati urged the government to launch a campaign to identify people from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities who, after converting to Islam or Christianity, continue to benefit from reservation policies, and to stop these benefits.
Claiming that the Constitution does not allow reservation based on religion, Saraswati said that such practices create contradictions, especially when communities that claim equality seek benefits under categories like "Dalit Christians" or "backward Muslims."
"This is because the Constitution does not provide for reservation on the basis of religion. Furthermore, it raises a contradiction wherein Islam and Christianity claim equality among all individuals without caste or gender discrimination, yet demands are made in the Supreme Court under categories such as Dalit Christians, backward and Dalit Muslims for reservation benefits," he said.
He said that giving reservation benefits to converted individuals takes away the rights of the original beneficiaries as envisioned by BR Ambedkar.
"This is seen as encroachment upon the rights granted to Scheduled Castes/Tribes by Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar," said Saraswati, who is also the national general secretary of the Ganga Mahasabha.
The religious leader also referred to anti-conversion laws in several states, saying that in some cases, benefits are withdrawn after conversion, and called such measures necessary for maintaining "national unity and integrity."
"Previously, such exercises have been conducted in states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Jharkhand. Anti-conversion laws have been passed in 10 states, where benefits are withdrawn if a Dalit converts. These measures have been considered effective in protecting national unity and integrity and preserving India's diverse cultural heritage," he claimed.
He urged that no form of religion-based reservation should be allowed.
Earlier, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on April 30, 2025, held that once an individual converts to Christianity and actively professes and practices the faith, he cannot be regarded as a member of the Scheduled Caste community.
The high court has held that the caste system is alien to Christianity and is consequently barred from invoking the provisions of the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.