Madras High Court: Marrying Under Christian Law Nullifies Hindu Scheduled Caste Status

CHENNAI, 20 May 2025 – The Madras High Court has ruled that individuals who voluntarily marry under the Indian Christian Marriage Act are deemed to have adopted the Christian faith, thereby renouncing their native religion. As a result, such individuals can no longer claim benefits reserved for Scheduled Castes under Hindu status.

The judgement, delivered by Justice L. Victoria Gowri, emphasised that once a person chooses to marry under Christian personal law, they are considered to have embraced Christianity, even if a formal religious conversion has not taken place. This reclassification affects their eligibility for caste-based reservations.

This significant ruling could influence future cases where religious identity and caste-based entitlements intersect, particularly in the context of interfaith or inter-caste marriages conducted under specific personal laws.

Source: Live Law

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