Prasanna Kumar 06 July 2025
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.
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.
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.
Prasanna Kumar 11 July 2025
Thanks again, sir!
T. Kalaiselvan, Advocate (Advocate) 12 July 2025
You are welcome.
Dr. MPS RAMANI Ph.D.[Tech.] (Scientist/Engineer) 12 July 2025
A certificate is required only when you want something or when you claim something. Whether you inheirit something depends on the religion of your parents. If your parents are Hindus you will inherit their propety based on Hindu Succession Act even if you declare that you are not a Hindu. You can renounce your claim or you do not claim the property. Even reservations for various castes are there only for those who claim them. Probably some authority can give you a ceritificate that you do not belong to any religion or caste. But there is no use for such a certificate. Once upon a time when the Special Marriages Act was not enacted if persons belonging to two different religions wanted to get married either one of them had to get converted to the religion of the other or both had to declare that they belonged to no religion. If you give such a declaration and publish it in the gazettee that is enough.
Prasanna Kumar 12 July 2025
Thank you for your explanation, Ramani. I'm aware that such certificates are not particularly useful in real life, but they help build momentum for social change.