In a significant ruling on 30 April, the Andhra Pradesh High Court, led by Justice Harinath N, quashed a case registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 2015, and related sections of the Indian Penal Code in Guntur. The decision, part of Criminal Petition No. 7114 of 2022, dismissed Spl. SC No. 36 of 2021, citing the complainant’s ineligibility to invoke the SC/ST Act due to his Christian faith.
The case stemmed from Pittalavanipalem Village, where the complainant, Pastor Chintada Anand Paul, a pastor for 10 years, alleged caste-based abuse and assaults. He reported receiving threatening phone calls in December 2020, an assault during Sunday prayers on January 3, 2021, and another attack by the petitioners and others on January 24, 2021. The complaint, filed on January 26, 2021, led to a police investigation, witness statements, and a charge sheet, with a medical report noting minor injuries.
The petitioners argued that the complainant, as a Christian pastor, could not claim Scheduled Caste status under the SC/ST Act, per the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, which applies only to Hindus. They denied the allegations and cited legal precedents, including Chinni Appa Rao vs. State of A.P. (2016), which bars Christian converts from SC protections. The complainant’s counsel countered with a caste certificate affirming his Hindu-Madiga status and evidence supporting the assault claims, urging a trial.
The court ruled in favor of the petitioners, noting the complainant’s active role as a pastor and Treasurer of the Pastors Fellowship confirmed his Christian faith. Witness statements, including from his wife, supported this, leading the court to conclude he could not claim SC status. The court also found insufficient evidence for the IPC charges, as most witnesses did not corroborate the alleged mob attack. The complainant’s caste certificate was deemed irrelevant for SC/ST Act purposes, with its validity left to other authorities.
The court quashed the case, stating the complaint misused the SC/ST Act and lacked evidence for trial. One accused had passed away during the proceedings. The ruling clarifies that conversion to Christianity disqualifies individuals from SC/ST Act protections and emphasizes the need for substantiated evidence in criminal cases.
Speaking to Organiser, LRFP President Santhosh said, “For over three decades, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 — commonly known as the SC/ST Act — has instilled fear among Hindus living in rural areas of states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. This fear stems from the misuse of the Act by certain Christian pastors involved in religious conversion activities, who use it to intimidate and silence those who challenge their actions.
“The general public, especially in rural regions, hesitates to confront these pastors due to the risk of being falsely accused under the SC/ST Act. Such accusations often result in social ostracism, legal harassment, and severe financial strain, even if the cases are eventually dismissed. Reports suggest that some pastors, often backed by influential networks or NGOs, exploit the Act to file complaints against villagers who raise objections to their conversion campaigns, unauthorised gatherings, or alleged encroachments on community land.
“This has created a climate of fear and distrust, where locals feel powerless to address disturbances caused by these activities without risking harsh consequences,” he added.
