India’s Supreme Court in 2024 reaffirmed that Dalit converts to Christianity or Islam are categorically excluded from Scheduled Caste (SC) status, declaring such claims a “fraud on the Constitution” in the case C Selvarani. The Court stated the exclusion is “absolute and admits no exception,” reinforcing a legal framework that ties SC recognition to specific religions.

Clause 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 originally limited SC status to Hindus and was later extended to Sikhs and Buddhists, but continues to exclude Muslims and Christians. A Dalit who converts to either of these faiths loses access to reservations in education and employment, scholarships, and protections under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

The constitutional validity of this religious criterion has been pending before the Supreme Court since 2004. In S Anbalagan v. B Devarajan (1984), the Court acknowledged caste may persist after conversion but declined to extend benefits. In Soosai v. Union of India (1985), it upheld the exclusion of Christian converts due to insufficient proof of continued backwardness.

Later judgments maintained this stance. In State of Kerala v. Chandramohanan (2004) and E V Chinnaiah v. State of Andhra Pradesh (2005), the Court emphasized the rigidity of SC classification under Article 341 of the Constitution. In K P Manu v. Chairman, Scrutiny Committee (2015), the Court allowed restoration of caste status upon reconversion but preserved the religious linkage.

Despite judicial consistency, expert bodies have challenged the exclusion. The Ranganath Mishra Commission (2007) recommended making SC status religion-neutral, finding no empirical basis for the current rule. The Sachar Committee and other studies documented ongoing discrimination against Dalit Muslims and Christians, while sociological research shows caste-based segregation, occupational immobility, and endogamy persist post-conversion.

In 2022, the Union government constituted a Commission of Inquiry led by former Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan to examine extending SC status to Dalit converts. Its report deadline has been extended to April 2026. National Crime Records Bureau data shows over 85% of atrocities against Scheduled Castes remain pending.