The Supreme Court of India on March 24 upheld a ruling that a person who converts to Christianity cannot be considered a member of a Scheduled Caste. The court affirmed an earlier decision of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on the issue.

The judgment referred to the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, which states that Scheduled Caste status is limited to those who follow Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism. The court said this rule is absolute and that conversion to any other religion results in the immediate loss of Scheduled Caste status.

The bench, including Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Manmohan, clarified that a person cannot practice another religion and still claim benefits meant for Scheduled Castes. This includes protections, reservations, and legal rights under various laws.

The case involved a man who had converted to Christianity and was working as a pastor. He had filed a complaint under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, alleging assault and threats. The accused challenged the complaint, saying it was not valid since the man was no longer part of a Scheduled Caste.

Earlier, the High Court had ruled that caste does not apply within Christianity and dismissed the case. The Supreme Court agreed, noting that the man continued to practice Christianity and had not returned to his original religion.

The court also said that having a caste certificate does not automatically give legal protection if a person has changed religion, as such matters must follow legal rules.

The Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), the largest men’s congregation of the Syro-Malabar Church, has elected Father Paul Achandy as its prior general for the second time. The election was held on March 19 during the 39th General Chapter at Chavara Hills in Kochi.

Father Achandy, 62, had earlier served as prior general for six years from 2014. His earlier term began in the same year when the congregation’s founder, Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara, was canonized. His return to leadership comes as the congregation prepares to celebrate its bicentenary in 2031.

After completing his previous term, he served as chancellor of Christ University and rector of Dharmaram College in Bengaluru. He also spent the past three years in Kenya.

His re-election is seen as a sign of trust and continuity, especially at a time when religious congregations face new challenges in mission and administration. Church members say such a return to leadership is uncommon, as most congregations follow fixed terms.

Born on May 19, 1963, Father Achandy was ordained a priest in 1992. He holds an MBA and a doctorate in management, with a focus on human resource development. He has served in key roles, including provincial in Thrissur and director of Amala Institute of Medical Sciences.

The CMI congregation, founded in 1831, has nearly 3,000 members working in education, healthcare, and social service in more than 30 countries.

Many have welcomed his re-election, describing him as a simple and visionary leader who guides with wisdom, faith, and commitment.

Catholics across India have been invited to observe a special Day of Fasting and Prayer for Peace in the Middle East on March 13. The call was made by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI).

The day is part of the Week of Prayer for Peace, which is being observed from March 8 to March 14. The initiative was announced by the bishops as violence and tensions continue in several parts of the Middle East.

Church leaders have encouraged the faithful to offer fasting, prayer, and personal sacrifices for peace in the troubled region. They are also asked to pray for the protection of innocent people who are suffering because of the conflicts and for wisdom for world leaders working for peace and reconciliation.

The bishops have also asked Catholics to remember the many Indians who live and work in Middle Eastern countries. Many of them support their families in India and contribute greatly to both the Church and society. The faithful have been urged to pray in a special way for their safety and well-being.

During the week, Catholics have been encouraged to pray the Holy Rosary every day, asking the intercession of Our Lady, Queen of Peace, for harmony and justice in the region.

Parishes, families, and prayer groups across India have been invited to take part in the March 13 observance. Church leaders hope that united prayer and sacrifice will help bring peace, healing, and hope to people suffering from violence in the Middle East.

The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) Commission for Women organized its Second National Resource Team Training Programme from March 9 to 11 at Nava Spoorthy Kendra in Bengaluru. The programme brought together 33 women leaders from five regions across India to strengthen leadership and promote safeguarding within the Church.

The three-day training focused on encouraging women’s active participation in Church life and promoting dignity and equality in communities. Participants attended sessions designed to help them support women’s leadership at parish and diocesan levels.

A major part of the programme discussed the Church’s Pastoral Plan 2033, which aims to increase the participation of women in the mission of the Church in India. Church leaders said the initiative has already gained momentum, with many dioceses across the country taking part in leadership formation programmes.

Participants also discussed important social issues such as gender equality, discrimination, stereotypes, and gender-based violence. Special sessions introduced them to India’s legal protections, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act (POSH). These sessions aimed to help participants promote safer and more respectful environments in Church institutions.

The programme also included daily Eucharistic celebrations and spiritual reflections that encouraged participants to reflect on justice, dignity, and the protection of vulnerable people.

Participants described the training as an important learning experience that helped them better understand their role in strengthening the Church. At the end of the programme, leaders encouraged participants to prepare action plans and share the training in their dioceses, helping build stronger women’s leadership across the Church in India.

Tensions between religious communities in Kopena village of Nabarangpur district in Odisha have led to the closure of a local church, leaving several Christian families afraid and unable to freely practise their faith.

The church, used by around 30 Christian families, was locked on January 25 after disagreements between the Christian community and the majority Hindu population in the village. Since then, Christian residents say they have faced threats and restrictions on their religious activities.

According to villagers, tensions increased on the day the church was closed. Two young Christian men, Jolander and John Santa, were reportedly beaten when they tried to record a video of the church being locked. The incident created fear among many families in the community.

Local authorities say they are aware of the dispute and have formed a peace committee to address the issue. Officials said the disagreement is mainly about the ownership of the land where the church stands, claiming that it belongs to the government.

However, the village pastor said the land was legally purchased in 2007 and that the church has been used for worship for many years.

The situation became more serious after the death of a 13-year-old Christian boy. His family said they were prevented from conducting the burial according to Christian rites in the village. The burial was later carried out on private land in the presence of police officials.

Christian groups say such incidents reflect growing hostility toward Christians in India. Meanwhile, Christian families in the village say they now gather and pray quietly in their homes, hoping the situation will improve.

The Supreme Court of India on March 11 allowed the withdrawal of life support from a man who has been in a vegetative state for more than ten years. The decision is being described as the first time the court has approved passive euthanasia for a specific individual case in the country.

The patient, Harish Rana, suffered severe head injuries after falling from a building in 2013. Since then, he has remained on life support with no signs of recovery. Doctors said he had almost no chance of regaining consciousness and was fully dependent on others for daily care.

Rana’s parents approached the court seeking permission to remove life support, saying they had tried all possible medical treatments without success. The court accepted their request after reviewing medical reports and legal guidelines.

India officially recognized passive euthanasia in 2018, allowing life support to be withdrawn under strict conditions so that death can occur naturally. However, active euthanasia, in which drugs are used to cause death, remains illegal in the country.

Some Christian leaders welcomed the court’s decision, saying it respected the dignity of human life. They noted that the family had taken every possible step to save the patient before making the request.

The debate about euthanasia in India began years earlier during the famous case of Aruna Shanbaug, a nurse who remained in a vegetative state for decades after a violent attack.

The issue continues to raise ethical and moral questions worldwide, as societies balance compassion for suffering patients with the belief in the sanctity of life.

In the frontier town of Akhnoor in the district of Jammu and Kashmir, a small Christian community continues to live with courage despite poverty and the tension of border conflicts. The town lies close to the Line of Control between India and Pakistan, where occasional firing and military activity often disturb daily life.

Around 130 Christian families live in small villages on the outskirts of Akhnoor. Many of them are third-generation Catholics whose ancestors accepted the Christian faith in the early 20th century when missionaries began working in the region. Most families work in low-paying jobs such as street sweeping or daily wage labor.

Despite these difficulties, many parents are determined to give their children a better future through education. One woman from the community works as a municipal street sweeper but dreams of seeing her son become a teacher. She says honest work gives dignity, and she hopes her child will achieve what she could not.

Border tensions also affect daily life. During shelling near the border, families often stay inside their homes and pray for safety. Yet they continue to hope for a better future.

The local Church plays an important role in supporting the community. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Jammu–Srinagar runs social services, including a shelter home for abandoned women.

Education is another focus. St. Francis Higher Secondary School in Akhnoor provides quality education to many children, including those from poor Christian families.

Even in difficult conditions, the Christian community remains united in faith and continues to hope for a brighter future for the next generation.

The Supreme Court of India has dismissed an appeal challenging restrictions imposed by village councils in Chhattisgarh that bar the entry of Christian missionaries and converts into certain tribal areas.

On Feb. 16, the court declined to interfere with an October 2025 order of the Chhattisgarh High Court, which had directed the petitioner to seek remedy under the state’s Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Rules (PESA), governing tribal self-administration.

The case arose after hoardings were erected in several villages in Kanker district in July 2025, prohibiting the entry of pastors and Christians who had converted from other religions. Village councils said the move aimed to prevent alleged forced or induced conversions.

Petitioner Digbal Tandi, a Protestant Christian, argued that the restrictions violated constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and free movement. His counsel contended that adverse observations about missionary activity were made without evidence.

The Supreme Court, however, advised the petitioner to approach appropriate statutory authorities under the PESA framework.

Christian leaders and rights advocates expressed concern over the ruling, saying constitutional protections should not be curtailed without proof of wrongdoing. They noted that similar restrictions have reportedly spread to at least 19 villages in Chhattisgarh and surfaced in parts of Odisha and Jharkhand. According to the 2011 Census, Christians constitute about 2.3 percent of India’s population.

A group of Christian worshippers in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district is living in fear after a mob allegedly disrupted their Sunday prayer service and threatened them with violence.

Members of the Christian Evangelical Assembly were gathered at the home of Pastor Jagannath Naik in Badabali Chua village on Feb. 22 when around 50 people reportedly stormed the house armed with sticks. The attackers allegedly ordered the group to stop praying to Jesus, claiming their worship angered local deities.

According to the pastor, his wife and an elderly woman were assaulted, and he was beaten when he tried to record the incident. He said he was forced to delete the video. Although the group contacted police through the emergency helpline, they claim no officers arrived.

The following day, alleged members of the mob reportedly warned Christians individually against continuing their worship. Bishop Pallab Lima of the United Believers Council Network India said the situation remains tense, with some families considering leaving the village.

Church leaders noted that Mayurbhanj is a sensitive region, recalling the 1999 killing of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons in Odisha.

Data from the United Christian Forum recorded 40 incidents of harassment against Christians in Odisha in 2024. Christian leaders warn that even minor incidents in the region risk escalating into serious unrest.

The head of the Catholic Church in Chhattisgarh has expressed concern after the Supreme Court of India dismissed a plea challenging restrictions on Christian missionaries and pastors entering certain tribal villages in the state.

On February 16, the apex court upheld a prior order of the Chhattisgarh High Court, which had declined to interfere with resolutions passed by some village councils allegedly barring the entry of pastors and tribal converts. The lower court observed that such measures were intended to prevent religious conversions through “inducement” or “manipulation” and to protect tribal culture and social harmony.

Archbishop Victor Henry Thakur of Raipur said the ruling appeared discriminatory and raised concerns about constitutional guarantees, including freedom of movement and the right to propagate religion. He noted that the Supreme Court’s dismissal seemed partly procedural, as petitioners were asked to first exhaust statutory remedies by approaching local authorities.

The case involved billboards in several tribal villages stating that entry of pastors and priests was prohibited under local resolutions. Petitioners argued the restrictions amounted to segregation and discrimination against Christians.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta granted liberty to the petitioners to seek relief before the appropriate statutory authority.

India’s legal framework on religious conversion remains complex, with 10 states enforcing anti-conversion laws. Critics say such laws, which provide penalties for conversions deemed coercive or fraudulent, have sometimes been used to target religious minorities.