Archive · 3 Aug 2026
Bombay High Court Rejects Muslim Man’s Scheduled Caste Claim
A man who is Muslim asked the Bombay High Court to say he is part of a special group called a scheduled caste.
The court said no, because the law says only Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists can be in that group.
The court followed a Supreme Court decision that says the law must be followed.
The man also wanted the case to go to the Supreme Court, but the court said it could decide it itself.
The court also lifted a temporary protection that had kept the man from losing his job.
The decision keeps the law the same as it was before.
Court upheld 1998 decision denying Muslim man scheduled caste status.
Decision based on 1950 Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, paragraph 3 limiting status to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists.
Supreme Court’s 1985 judgment and Article 141 bind the High Court.
Court rejected petition to declare the order unconstitutional and to transfer case to Supreme Court.
Interim protection for petitioner’s employment was lifted on July 8, 2022.
- Who
- A Muslim man and the Bombay High Court justices
- What
- Petition to be declared a scheduled caste and to challenge the 1950 Order
- When
- July 27, 2023
- Where
- Bombay High Court, India
- Why
- To maintain the existing law that restricts scheduled caste status to Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists
- Court
- Bombay High Court
- Decision Date
- July 27, 2023
- Status
- Denied
- Law
- Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950
- Relevant Article
- Article 141