GANPAT vs RETURNING OFFICER & ORS.

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's dismissal of an election petition challenging the election of a candidate from a scheduled caste on the grounds of alleged conversion to Buddhism. The Court found that the appellant failed to provide evidence of the conversion, including the date and circumstances, and noted that the candidate had been a Hindu and claimed scheduled caste status for educational benefits. The Court emphasized that mere participation in Buddhist rites by relatives does not equate to a change in religion, affirming that religion is a personal matter and should be determined by the individual's assertion.