Archive · 19 Jul 2026
Supreme Court Dismisses Pastor's Review Plea on SC Status
A pastor from Andhra Pradesh asked the Supreme Court to change its mind about a rule that says people who convert to Christianity can't keep their Scheduled Caste (SC) status.
The court said no, and explained that the rule has always been that if you convert to Christianity, you lose your SC status.
This means you can't use the special protections that SC people get under the law.
The pastor asked the court to look at this again, but the court said no, there's no reason to change the rule.
Supreme Court dismissed a review petition by Andhra Pradesh pastor Chinthada Ananda.
The petition challenged the court's earlier ruling that converts to Christianity lose SC status.
The court found no error in the original judgment and no grounds for review.
The original judgment stated that conversion to Christianity results in loss of SC status.
The court clarified that SC status is restricted to members of specified religions under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950.
- Who
- Chinthada Ananda, an Andhra Pradesh pastor
- What
- Supreme Court dismissed his review petition on SC status for converts to Christianity
- When
- Recently (exact date not specified)
- Where
- Supreme Court of India, Vijayawada
- Why
- Court found no error in the original judgment and no grounds for review
- Petitioner
- Chinthada Ananda (Andhra Pradesh pastor)
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Original Judgment
- Persons converting to Christianity lose SC status
- Review Petition Outcome
- Dismissed
- Judges Involved
- Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, Justice Manmohan
- Relevant Law
- Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950
- Relevant Act
- Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act