Supreme Court: When a person ceased to be a member of the Scheduled Caste community upon his conversion to Christianity, he cannot subsequently invoke provisions of SC/ST(Atrocities) Act

A. Offences alleged under the SC/ST Act

60) At the very outset, it must be unequivocally stated that the offences registered under the SC/ST Act against respondent nos. 2 to 7 at the instance of the appellant cannot be sustained. Having already held that the appellant ceased to be a member of the Scheduled Caste community upon his conversion to Christianity, he cannot subsequently invoke the provisions of the SC/ST Act. The said statute is a special legislation enacted with the avowed object of preventing atrocities against the members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and once the foundational requirement of caste status stands extinguished, the statutory protection thereunder is no longer available.

61) Therefore, we are of the view that the High Court was right in holding that the appellant has ceased to be a member of the Scheduled Caste on his conversion to Christianity. Accordingly, the appellant cannot be a person aggrieved under the SC/ST Act.

REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1580 OF 2026

CHINTHADA ANAND  Vs STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

Author: PRASHANT KUMAR MISHRA, J.

Citation:  2026 INSC 283.

Dated: MARCH 24, 2026.

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