“Andhra Pradesh: High Court slams converted Christian pastor for misusing SC-ST Act, says cannot play both sides and use the act for personal gain”, Opindia, May 2, 2025:

“A person who has converted to a different faith cannot register a crime under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, according to the verdict of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. On April 30, the decision was pronounced by Justice N Harinath.

A complaint was filed under the SC/ST act by a Christian pastor Chintada Anand Paul from Kothapalem, Guntur district. He reported that the petitioners had punched and slapped him during a prayer service as well as hurled caste-based abuses against him.

However, the Court contended that the complainant’s conversion to Christianity rendered the submission of the FIR (First Information Report) under the SC/ST Act unlawful. They asserted that he cannot claim to a member of the scheduled caste community after conversion…..”

Read the full article at Opindia.com