SC Defines Religious Conversion for Quota as Constitutional Fraud

In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court ruled that religious conversion solely to claim reservation benefits without genuine belief undermines the Constitution and reservation policy. The verdict, issued on November 26, 2024, involved a Puducherry woman, born Christian, who sought Scheduled Caste benefits after claiming to have embraced Hinduism. The court found her conversion insincere, motivated by employment prospects rather than faith. Evidence, including her parents’ Christian marriage and her consistent church attendance, contradicted her claims.

Justice R. Mahadevan emphasized that Article 25 ensures freedom of religious practice inspired by belief, not opportunism. Conversion without genuine conviction, he said, defrauds both the Constitution and society, cancelling her Scheduled Caste certificate. Citing past rulings, the court affirmed its ability to discern fraudulent intent behind pretended conversions while respecting individuals’ freedom of faith.