What we know so far about the Supreme Court’s ruling on reservation for converted Dalits

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (March 24, 2026) ruled that a priest from the Madiga community in Andhra Pradesh cannot claim Scheduled Caste status after converting to a religion not covered under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, which the court said imposed an “absolute” ban on religion.

Upholding the decision of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, the apex court held that a person who follows any religion other than Hinduism, Buddhism or Sikhism cannot be recognized as a member of Scheduled Caste and hence cannot benefit from the benefits and protections provided to SC communities.

Supreme Court on RS status of religious converts

A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan argued that conversion to a religion other than those specified in the 1950 Order would result in “immediate and complete loss of Scheduled Caste status from the moment of conversion, irrespective of birth”. It said that a convert who does not accept Hinduism, Buddhism or Sikhism as listed in Clause 3 of the judgment cannot claim any legal benefits, protections, reservations or rights available to members of Scheduled Castes.

The decision further clarified that a person who claims to have converted to Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism must establish cumulative and conclusive evidence of his previous caste status, provide reliable and unimpeachable evidence of bona fide reconversion and show that he has been accepted and assimilated by members of the original caste community.

The court also observed that Christianity, in its theological foundations, does not recognize or incorporate the institution of caste. It has been held that when a person ceases to be a member of a Scheduled Caste by reason of conversion, the resulting loss of status entails automatic termination of all legal benefits, protections, reservations, preferences and entitlements arising from such membership, including protections under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The judgment examined the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, stating that, unlike the Scheduled Castes Order, it did not envisage religious exclusion. Justice Mishra said the entitlement to benefits under the Scheduled Tribes Order depends on whether the person continues to “inherently” belong to a particular tribe.

The centre’s stance on this issue

The Union government, meanwhile, relied on the Scheduled Castes Scheme of 1950 to argue that Dalit Muslims and Christians should continue to be excluded, citing the “foreign origin” of these religions, as opposed to Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism.

Petitioners seeking Scheduled Caste status for Dalit Christians and Muslims have argued that the 1950 Order has been modified over time, first to include Sikhism in the 1950s and later to include Buddhism in 1990. The amendment to include Buddhism, Dr. They pointed out that it was due to large-scale transformations in certain regions following BR Ambedkar’s call.

In October 2022, the Center constituted a Commission of Inquiry, chaired by former Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan, to examine whether Scheduled Caste status can be extended to conversions to Islam and Christianity. After multiple extensions, the Commission is scheduled to submit its report in April this year.

Congress condemned the decision

Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, said the decision has caused “deep consternation, unrest and fear” among economically weaker sections of minority communities. He questioned how the two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court could decide the matter without referring it to a larger Bench and asked why the Union government had not informed the court that the matter was awaiting determination before the three-judge Bench.

Christian organizations and civil rights activists criticized the decision, saying it was a setback to constitutional guarantees of equality and religious freedom. Warning that the decision could undermine social justice and democratic values, they appealed to the Center to review the decision and bring in legal and political safeguards for Dalit Christians.

Hindu parties welcomed the decision

Vishva Hindu Parishad welcomed the decision on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 and described it as a decision that strengthens the spirit of the Constitution, social justice and the rule of law. VHP joint general secretary Surendra Jain said in a statement that the decision is in line with constitutional principles and will promote social harmony, transparency and justice. He added that the organization will prepare a list of converts and ensure that aid is returned to those deemed appropriate.

Akhil Bhartiya Sant Samiti also welcomed the decision on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 and urged the Center to prevent converts from accessing reservation benefits. Samiti national general secretary Swami Jitendranand Saraswati said the decision puts an end to what he described as foreign-backed efforts to undermine Sanatan Dharma.

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren welcomed the decision on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, stating that it aims to protect vulnerable communities from religious conversion. He claimed that those facilitating conversion often conceal facts and use inducement, coercion or misinformation.

Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao called the decision a “historic victory for the spirit of the Constitution”. Himself, Dr. He said the Scheduled Caste reservations envisaged by BR Ambedkar were aimed at social development of the marginal sections within the Hindu community.

It was published – 27 March 2026 09:05 IST