There is no caste in Christianity; Andhra Pradesh High Court says that those who convert to the religion will not get the benefit of the SC-ST Act

Andhra Pradesh High Court has ruled that there is no caste system in Christianity. The Andhra Pradesh High Court has also clarified that those who convert to Christianity are not entitled to the benefits of the SC and ST Protection Act. However, the court has clarified that a person who converts to Christianity and lives according to the religious customs cannot continue to be a member of the Scheduled Caste.

The court's remarks were made while hearing a case filed under the SC-ST Act against Akal Rami Reddy, a native of Guntur, who has converted to Christianity. Justice Harinath N also quashed the charges against Rami Reddy under the SC-ST Act.
The pastor alleged that people including Rami Reddy discriminate on the basis of caste. The complainant argued that he still has a Scheduled Caste certificate. However, the court explained that the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act cannot be included in this case and that he has ceased to be a member of the Scheduled Caste community from the day he converted to Christianity.

The SC-ST Act is a law brought to prevent atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The complainant said that he had voluntarily converted to Christianity and had been working as a pastor in a church for the last 10 years. Therefore, the court quashed the case, stating that he would not get the benefit of the SC-ST Act.