Story perspectives

Supreme Court Rejects Tamil Nadu Appeal on Convert Reservations

By Drooid · Oct 15, 2026, 10:25 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Supreme Court Rejects Appeal

Supreme Court rejected Tamil Nadu's appeal, upholding Madras High Court ruling that converts cannot claim reservation benefits.
The bench struck down Tamil Nadu Government Order No. 15 (March 9 2024) granting BC-Muslim certificates to converts.
The Court held Article 16(4) benefits cannot be claimed after conversion to a non-Hindu faith.
It reaffirmed Scheduled Caste status applies only to Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists under the 1950 Order.

Summary

Satishacharya Hails Verdict

Jagadguru Satishacharya called the verdict a boon for Hindus and India.
He said the ruling supports the ‘Developed India 2047’ policy and will curb religious conversions.
Satishacharya stressed that religion is a matter of faith while reservations are governed by the Constitution.
He urged that conversion largely end, linking the judgment to national development goals.

History

Historical Context

The 1950 Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, drafted by the Constituent Assembly under Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, confined SC status to Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists and earmarked a 15 % reservation in public jobs. Amendments in 1956 and 1990 extended it to Sikh and Buddhist converts, leaving other religions excluded. The Supreme Court’s 1 August 2024 decision upholding state sub-quotas reaffirmed this religious barrier.

1 of 3

Supreme Court Rejects Appeal

Supreme Court rejected Tamil Nadu's appeal, upholding Madras High Court ruling that converts cannot claim reservation benefits.
The bench struck down Tamil Nadu Government Order No. 15 (March 9 2024) granting BC-Muslim certificates to converts.
The Court held Article 16(4) benefits cannot be claimed after conversion to a non-Hindu faith.
It reaffirmed Scheduled Caste status applies only to Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists under the 1950 Order.

1 / 3