Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Nov 14: The Supreme Court noted on Monday that forced religious conversion is a very serious issue that imperils both the country’s and its inhabitants’ freedom and security as well as their right to religious freedom.
While everyone has the right to practise their faith freely, religious conversion cannot be accomplished by coercion, according to a bench comprising Justices MR Shah and Hima Kolhi.
“Issue is very serious and may ultimately affect the freedom and security of the country and citizens, along with their freedom of conscience,” the Court said.
It thus instructed the Central government to submit a rebuttal affidavit outlining the measures it had taken to prevent conversion by force. On November 28, 2022, the court set the subject for another hearing.
The decision was made in response to a request from BJP spokesperson Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay for strict measures to prevent religious conversion through coercion and fraud.
According to the argument, false and dishonest religious conversion is rife throughout the nation, and the central authority has failed to curtail its threat.
“There is not even one district which is free of religious conversion by ‘hook and crook and the carrot and the stick’,” the plea said.
Furthermore, it warned that Hindus would soon become a minority in India if such conversions are not stopped. Therefore, it was argued, the Centre is required to pass a national law for the same.
Additionally, the petitioner requested that the Law Commission of India be given instructions on how to draught a report and a bill to prevent “deceitful religious conversion.”
