TNI Bureau: In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court on Tuesday reaffirmed that individuals who convert to religions other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism are not entitled to Scheduled Caste (SC) status under the Constitution.

The Court upheld the provisions of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, which restricts SC recognition to members of these three religions. It observed that conversion to religions such as Christianity or Islam results in the loss of eligibility for SC benefits, including reservation in education, government jobs, and political representation.

Emphasizing the legal framework, the bench noted that the concept of Scheduled Castes is historically rooted in caste-based discrimination prevalent in the Hindu social order, later extended to Sikhs and Buddhists. Since other religions do not traditionally recognise caste in the same manner, the continuation of SC status after conversion is not permissible under current law.

The Court also reiterated its earlier position that conversion cannot be used as a tool to claim reservation benefits, terming such attempts contrary to the spirit of affirmative action policies.

The ruling carries wide-ranging implications, particularly for Dalit communities who have converted to other faiths but seek inclusion in the SC category. It is expected to reignite debates over whether reservation benefits should be extended to Dalit Christians and Muslims.

With this judgment, the apex court has once again reinforced the existing constitutional boundaries governing caste-based reservations in India.