In a significant judgement reiterating the settled legal position, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has ruled that individuals who convert to religions other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism cannot avail benefits or privileges accorded to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category under the Constitution of India.
Justice L. Victoria Gowri, delivering a detailed and pointed judgement, disqualified AIADMK functionary V. Amutha Rani from the post of Chairperson of Theroor Town Panchayat, Kanyakumari District. The post was reserved for candidates from the Scheduled Caste (General) category.
The petitioner, V. Iyyappan, a DMK member elected from Ward 8, challenged Rani’s eligibility under Section 50(1)(ddd) of the Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Act, 1920. While Rani originally belonged to the Hindu Pallar community, a recognised Scheduled Caste, she married a Christian man from the Backward Class community in 2005, under the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872.
The writ petitioner, V. Iyyappan, contested in the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Body Election in 2022, as DMK party candidate and was elected as the member of the Theroor Town Panchayat from Ward 8, which was reserved for Scheduled Caste (general).
The 4th respondent, V. Amutha Rani, contested as AIADMK party candidate from Ward 2, which was reserved for women (general) and she was also elected. As per the Government Order in G.O.Ms.No.12, Municipal Administration and Water Supply (Election Department) dated 17.01.2022, the post of the Chairman of the Theroor Town Panchayat was reserved for Scheduled Caste (general).
The indirect election for the post of the Chairman of the Theroor Town Panchayat was held on March 14, 2022. While the petitioner submitted his nomination, to his shock and surprise, the 4th respondent (V. Amutha Rani) also filed a nomination claiming that she also belong to the Scheduled Caste community.
The issue arose here — the petitioner challenged the eligibility of the V. Amutha Rani on the grounds that, although she originally belonged to the Scheduled Caste community, she had subsequently converted to Christianity. Her marriage to her husband, V. Vincent, was solemnized on October 17, 2005 according to Christian rites and customs, and she had embraced Christianity at the time of marriage.
The writ petitioner condemns that, it is a settled position of law that once a person converts to any religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism, she cannot claim the benefits of reservation given for the Scheduled Caste Community.
On that basis, he also submitted a written objection to the returning officer. The returning officer received the written objection and informed that he will get a clarification letter from the Tahsildar, Agastheeswaram, regarding the Backward Class status of the 4th respondent.
However, no such communication was received from the Tahsildar. On the other hand, the returning officer arbitrarily passed the resolution in the minute book declaring that, the said 4th respondent, namely, Amudha Rani, as the successful candidate.
Justice Gowri observed: “In the given circumstances, the conferment of Scheduled Caste communal status to the 4th respondent (Amudha Rani), who is a Christian by religion, is nothing but a fraud on the Constitution.”
The Court concluded that once a person voluntarily embraces Christianity, they forfeit any claim to Scheduled Caste benefits, which are inherently linked to the Hindu social framework.
The judgement emphasised that marriages solemnised under the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872, can only take place between two Christians. Hence, Rani’s religious conversion was deemed evident and voluntary. The pre-marital caste identity (Hindu Pallan) was no longer applicable, as the socio-religious identity of an individual is transformed through such religious conversion.
Justice Gowri further elaborated:
Having voluntarily embraced Christianity, the Respondent cannot blow hot and cold, claiming to be a Scheduled Caste for the purpose of ‘public employment. She cannot identify herself as a ‘Hindu’ after solemnisation of marriage under the Indian Christian Marriage Act 1872.
The preamble of the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872, itself would mirror the position of law that the said Act is : “An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the solemnization in India of the marriages of Christians”.
Her socio-legal personality has changed, and her original Scheduled Caste status stands renounced.”
Accordingly, the Court allowed the writ petition and issued directions to the authorities to declare Rani disqualified from the position of Chairperson of Theroor Town Panchayat, a post reserved for SC (General) candidates.
The Judge said “having voluntarily embraced Christianity, the Respondent cannot blow hot and cold, claiming to be a Scheduled Caste for the purpose of ‘public employment. She cannot identify herself a ‘Hindu’ after solemnization of marriage under the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872.
The verdict aligns with the consistent legal stance of both the Supreme Court and other High Courts across the country. In November 2024, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Pankaj Mithal and R. Mahadevan upheld a Madras High Court order rejecting SC certificate to C. Selvarani, who had converted to Christianity but sought to reclaim Hindu SC status for employment.
Similarly, on 30 April 2024, Justice N. Harinath of the Andhra Pradesh High Court ruled:
“Having converted to Christianity, the petitioner cannot continue to be a member of the Scheduled Caste community. The caste system is alien to Christianity.”
He added that someone who identifies as a Pastor or church leader cannot invoke protections under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, which apply exclusively to communities recognised under those categories within their respective religious contexts.
In a related development, a conference scheduled on 24 May in Dindigul, aims to demand Most Backward Class (MBC) status for converted Vanniyars, a dominant caste within Hinduism.
Critics have raised constitutional objections, questioning:
“After converting to Christianity, how can one claim belonging to the Vanniyar caste?”
“How can such groups be considered under MBC reservation quotas meant for Hindu communities?”
Organisations such as Hindu Irai Thondargal (Divine Servitude Cadres) have strongly condemned the event, calling it a “betrayal of the Vanniyar community” and a move likely to fuel communal and caste tensions.
“The government must revoke permissions for such unconstitutional conferences. This could incite caste-based conflicts and communal disharmony,” their statement said.
