Supreme Court rejects review plea on SC status after religious conversion.

What the Court said

On July 15, 2026, a bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan dismissed a review petition against its March 24, 2026 verdict. 

The Court held:

People who convert to a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism lose Scheduled Caste status "immediately and completely"

The loss applies from the moment of conversion, regardless of birth

They cannot claim any statutory benefit, protection, reservation or entitlement linked to SC status 

The bench said: "There is no error apparent on the record. The Review Petition is, accordingly, dismissed" 

Legal Basis

The ruling relies on Clause 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950.

Originally it restricted SC status to Hindus, extended to Sikhs in 1956 and Buddhists in 1990.

The Court called the bar "categorical and absolute" and said "admits no exception" 

Case Background

The March 24 verdict upheld an Andhra Pradesh High Court order from April 30, 2025.

That case involved Pastor Chinthada Anand from the Madiga community who had converted to Christianity and filed a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The HC quashed the FIR, saying caste system is "alien to Christianity" and he could not claim SC protections 

Key Points

Automatic loss: SC status ends immediately upon conversion to religions not listed in the 1950 Order

No dual claim: "A person can't simultaneously profess and practice a religion other than the one specified in clause 3 and claim membership of the Scheduled Caste"

Reconversion: If someone reconverts to Hinduism/Sikhism/Buddhism, they must prove earlier caste status, bona fide reconversion, and acceptance by the original caste community

ST difference: For Scheduled Tribes, the 1950 Order does NOT have a religion bar. ST status depends on tribal identity, customs, and community acceptance 

Context

The Court noted this was to prevent misuse where individuals convert but "illegally retain SC certificates to claim reservation quotas"