Supreme Court rules conversion does not grant OBC, Dalit reservation benefits

The apex court delivered a landmark judgment clarifying that conversion to another faith does not entitle members of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) or Scheduled Castes (Dalits) to the reservation quotas guaranteed under the Constitution. The bench examined petitions challenging the applicability of reservation benefits to converts, arguing that the original intent of affirmative action was tied to historical social disadvantage, not religious affiliation. In its ruling, the court affirmed that the eligibility criteria remain anchored to the caste status as recorded in official lists, irrespective of a person's current religion. Legal experts noted that the decision upholds the principle that reservation is a tool for social equity rather than a religious concession. The judgment is expected to influence future policy debates on affirmative action and the rights of religious minorities in India.