India, March 24 -- The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday ruled that a person professing a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism cannot be considered a member of a Scheduled Caste, holding that conversion leads to loss of SC status.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice P K Mishra upheld an April 30, 2025 order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, stating that the position is clearly laid down in the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950.

The court said no statutory benefit, protection, reservation or entitlement under the Constitution or laws enacted by Parliament or state legislatures can be extended to a person who is not deemed a Scheduled Caste member under Clause 3 of the 1950 order.

"This bar is absolute and admits ...