New Delhi, April 20:

The Supreme Court of India has reiterated that Scheduled Caste (SC) status is restricted to individuals professing Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism, in line with the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950.

The Court clarified that a person belonging to a Scheduled Caste who converts to another religion, such as Christianity or Islam, ceases to be recognised as an SC from the moment of conversion. As a result, such individuals are no longer entitled to reservation benefits or legal protections available under laws including the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The ruling came while upholding a lower court decision and reaffirming the existing constitutional framework governing SC recognition. The bench
observed that the legal status of Scheduled Castes is explicitly linked to the three specified religions under the Presidential Order issued in 1950.

Originally limited to Hindus, the scope of SC recognition was extended to Sikhs in 1956 and Buddhists in 1990 through subsequent amendments. However, individuals professing other religions remain outside its ambit under the current legal framework.

The Court further noted that any change in this position would require legislative intervention and cannot be addressed through judicial interpretation alone.

Originally published in Dweep Tulika, Volume IX, Issue No. 1.

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