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Christianity Has No Caste: Andhra Pradesh High Court . In a landmark ruling that has sparked fresh debate on religion, caste, and legal protections in India, the Andhra Pradesh High Court recently held that Dalits who convert to Christianity cannot seek protection under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The court emphasized that Christianity, by its foundational principles, does not recognize caste — and therefore, converted individuals lose the caste identity that forms the basis for SC protections. What Was the Case About? The court was hearing a case where the complainant, originally a Dalit by birth, had embraced Christianity. Yet, he filed a criminal complaint under the SC/ST Act, alleging caste-based discrimination. The defense challenged the applicability of the Act, arguing that once someone converts to a religion that does not acknowledge caste, they can no longer claim to be part of the Scheduled Castes for legal p...