Supreme Court Ruling on Caste Status After Conversion Welcomed by MLA Amit Gorkhe
MLA had raised concerns over reservation benefits during Maharashtra Legislative Council session
Pimpri-Chinchwad : BJP MLA Amit Gorkhe has welcomed the Supreme Court’s rulings on Scheduled Caste status following religious conversion, stating that the decisions will help protect the rights of eligible beneficiaries of reservation.
The remarks come after the Supreme Court reiterated that a person who converts from Hinduism to a religion outside Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism cannot continue to claim Scheduled Caste status and associated statutory benefits solely on the basis of their birth caste. The Court’s March 2026 judgment in Chinthada Anand v. State of Andhra Pradesh addressed the issue of Scheduled Caste status after conversion to Christianity.
Gorkhe had raised the issue in the Legislative Council
During the monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Gorkhe had raised concerns about alleged illegal religious conversions involving coercion, fraud or inducements. He also drew the government’s attention to cases in which, he alleged, individuals who had converted to Christianity continued to use Scheduled Caste certificates to claim reservation and other benefits. Gorkhe argued that such practices, if established, could affect eligible members of Scheduled Caste communities seeking access to constitutionally provided opportunities.
Welcomes state government’s action
Gorkhe also referred to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s assurance in the legislature regarding action against illegal religious conversions. He welcomed the state government’s steps in this regard and expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister.
Commenting on the Supreme Court’s position, Gorkhe said the ruling was significant for safeguarding the rights of disadvantaged communities and preventing the misuse of reservation benefits.
The legal position on Scheduled Caste eligibility is governed by the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, which recognises Scheduled Caste status for persons professing Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism. The Supreme Court has clarified that conversion to other religions results in the loss of that status, subject to the applicable legal framework.
Gorkhe said he hoped the decisions would strengthen the implementation of reservation provisions and ensure that benefits reach those legally entitled to them.
