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Prasanna Kumar   06 July 2025

How do i apply for no-caste and no-religion certificates? consequences?

Hi everyone, I'm planning to apply for no-caste (casteless) and no-religion (atheist) certificates. I'm unmarried and not looking for any reservation, caste-based, or religion-based government benefits for me and my family in the future. 1. I want to know the procedure for applying for both certificates. 2. What are the consequences that I may face related to marriage, inheritance of property, and other personal laws? I'm from Andhra Pradesh. I know about the Madras High Court's judgment that allowed revenue officials to issue ‘no caste, no community’ certificates. Also, I have some understanding of the Special Marriage Act.


 8 Replies

kavksatyanarayana (subregistrar/supdt.(retired))     06 July 2025

If you do not take a caste certificate, if you don't want it.  You never mention your caste and religion.  But no caste and no religion certificates will be issued.  You combined two queries.  What do you want?

T. Kalaiselvan, Advocate (Advocate)     06 July 2025

To apply for a "No Caste, No Religion" certificate in Andhra Pradesh, you can approach the Collector's office of your residence.

 You'll need to submit an application form and relevant documents, including proof of residence and potentially a report from a Patwari or Sarpanch. 

While there isn't a specific "No Caste, No Religion" certificate prescribed by the government, you can apply for a certificate that doesn't mention caste or religion, particularly if you haven't availed any benefits tied to caste certificates and can demonstrate your ability to live without them. 

There is no legal obligation for an Indian citizen to declare their caste or religion. 

Madras High Court has stated that revenue officials do not have the authority to issue such a certificate. 

Sneha Parthibaraja is an advocate in Tirupattur, Tamil Nadu, who became the first person in India to receive an official "No Caste, No Religion" certificate Sneha's reasons for requesting the certificate were: —She had never received any benefits that required a caste certificate —She believed she could live without .  She fought for 9 years to get this certificate. 

1 Like

Prasanna Kumar   06 July 2025

Thank you for your explanation, Kalaiselvan.

I read in the following 2025 article that revenue officials can issue these certificates.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/revenue-officials-can-issue-no-caste-no-community-certificates-rules-madras-high-court/article69682896.ece

T. Kalaiselvan, Advocate (Advocate)     07 July 2025

You may note that the high court has passed an order to the government of Tamilnadu to pass a GO, thus it is clear that there is no provision or rules authorising the revenue officials to issue the desired certificate till now. 

The part of the judgment is repeated herein below:

The Madras High Court has called upon the Tamil Nadu government to issue a Government Order (G.O.) empowering the revenue officials to issue ‘no caste, no community’ certificates to individuals who prefer not to be identified with any religion or caste.

Hence you may please not misread or misinterpret the judgment, however since it is a citation by which the high court has passed an order to the concerned revenue officials, we can quote it as an example.

1 Like

Prasanna Kumar   07 July 2025

Okay, understood. What happens to inheritance rights if I take a no-religion certificate? I'm not keen on inheriting any property from my parents, but I don't want others to exploit my situation. I want to transfer the property rights to the people or organizations that I like.

T. Kalaiselvan, Advocate (Advocate)     07 July 2025

Are you clarifying the inheritance rights to inherit the property as a successor in interest or you want to know the procedure to transfer your self acquired property in favor of a third person. 

In the former case your rights for inheritance is a birth right if you were born to a Hindu parents. 

In the latter subject,  it is purely your own desire to transfer your property to anyone of your choice and in the manner you may decide. 

Prasanna Kumar   07 July 2025

Yes, I was born to Hindu parents. Will birthright (as per the Hindu Succession Act) still apply if I take a no-religion certificate? Are there any inheritance laws specific to atheists or non-believers? Thanks again!.

T. Kalaiselvan, Advocate (Advocate)     11 July 2025

As you have mentioned yourself that it is birth right, then who has the power to deprive your birth right, if somebody does that then you can very well approach legal forum for remedy, because shunning away the religious tag on your name does not means that you may have to forego or lose your rights as provided in the constitution.


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