The Supreme Court has dismissed a Scheduled Caste Conversion Review petition challenging its March 24, 2026 judgment on the loss of Scheduled Caste (SC) status after religious conversion. A Bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan found no apparent error in the earlier verdict.
Review Petition Dismissed
The Supreme Court rejected the review petition filed against its judgment in Chintada Anand v. State of Andhra Pradesh & Ors. The Court also rejected the request for an oral hearing.
The Bench examined the review application and the original judgment dated March 24, 2026. It found no reason to reconsider the earlier decision.
The Court stated:
“There is no error apparent on the record.”
Therefore, the Bench dismissed the review petition and the request for an open court hearing.
SC Status After Religious Conversion
The case arose from a challenge filed by Chintada Anand, an Andhra Pradesh pastor. Anand originally belonged to a Scheduled Caste community. However, he later converted to Christianity.
Following the conversion, Anand filed a criminal complaint under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. He alleged caste-based abuse and intimidation.
However, the Andhra Pradesh High Court quashed the FIR. The Court held that conversion to Christianity ended Anand’s Scheduled Caste status. Therefore, he could not claim statutory protection available specifically to members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The Supreme Court upheld that decision. It relied on Paragraph 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950.
The provision states that a person who professes a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism cannot qualify as a member of a Scheduled Caste.
Statutory Framework and Judicial Interpretation
| Legal Framework | Statutory Effect | Judicial Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 | Restricts SC status to followers of Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism. | Conversion to Christianity or Islam results in the loss of SC status. |
| SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 | Protects members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes from atrocities. | A person who loses SC status through conversion cannot invoke protections reserved for SC members. |
| Doctrine of Reconversion | Allows a person to seek restoration of SC status after returning to a recognized religion. | The claimant must satisfy strict evidentiary requirements. |
Supreme Court Reaffirms Three-Pronged Reconversion Test
The Court also reaffirmed the legal principles governing the restoration of Scheduled Caste status after reconversion.
A person who returns to Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism may claim their original SC status. However, the person must satisfy all three conditions below.
1. Proof of Birth
First, the individual must prove that they were born into a community listed as a Scheduled Caste under the relevant statutory schedules.
2. Bona Fide Reconversion
Second, the individual must establish that the reconversion was genuine. They must also show complete and unequivocal renunciation of the previously adopted religion.
3. Community Acceptance
Finally, the individual must prove that members of the original caste community accepted them back into the community.
The Court made the position clear. Failure to satisfy even one of these conditions can defeat a claim for restoration of Scheduled Caste status.
Legal Position Reaffirmed
The Supreme Court’s decision reinforces the statutory limits governing Scheduled Caste classification. Under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, the law currently recognizes Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism for SC status.
Consequently, conversion to Christianity or Islam results in the loss of statutory Scheduled Caste status under the existing legal framework. However, a person may seek restoration after reconversion if they meet the strict three-pronged test.
The Scheduled Caste Conversion Review ruling therefore reaffirms both the statutory effect of religious conversion and the strict requirements for reclaiming SC status after reconversion.
