Love Jihad; Dharm Parivartan Kanoon History Vs Pakistan Blasphemy Law | Gujarat MP UP Chhattisgarh Anti-Conversion Laws | Debate on Love Jihad: Law to stop conversion in 9 states of the country; Up to life imprisonment for doing so in pak » India News
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Love Jihad; Dharm Parivartan Kanoon History Vs Pakistan Blasphemy Law | Gujarat MP UP Chhattisgarh Anti-Conversion Laws | Debate on Love Jihad: Law to stop conversion in 9 states of the country; Up to life imprisonment for doing so in pak

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13 minutes agoAuthor: Priyank Dwivedi

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The term ‘love jihad’ is not defined in the current laws. No case of ‘Love Jihad’ has been reported by any central agency. ‘ This is the answer of Minister of State for Home Affairs Kishan Reddy, who he gave on 4 February this year, on the question about the Love Jihad case in Kerala.

It is mentioned because there is no word in the law called ‘Love Jihad’, yet nowadays it is being discussed everywhere. Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have brought about the ordinance. However, that ordinance is brought to prevent forced conversions for marriage. But, it is being considered against love jihad. Now that so much debate has started on this, it is important to know that how many states of our country have laws to prevent forcible conversion? Do other countries also have such laws? And is it really possible to make such a law?

First of all, before independence
At the time of British India before independence there was no law to prevent forced conversions. But even at that time, there were laws regarding this in the four princely states of the country, Rajgarh, Patna, Surguja and Udaipur. First such law was made in 1936 in Rajgarh. Thereafter, legislation was made in Patna in 1942, Surguja in 1945 and Udaipur in 1946. The purpose of these laws was to prevent Hindus from turning into Christians.

What happened to prevent forced conversions after independence?

  • After independence, for the first time the ‘Indian Conversion of Regulation and Registration Bill’ was introduced in the Lok Sabha in 1954 to prevent forced conversions. But, it did not pass. It was followed by bills in 1960 and 1979, but could not pass due to lack of majority.
  • Subsequently, on 10 May 1995, a bench of Supreme Court Justices Kuldeep Singh and Justice RM Sahai suggested a committee to explore the possibility of enacting a law on conversion to prevent the misuse of religion in the Sarla Mudgal v. Union of India case. Was.
  • This suggestion is because at that time Hindu men were converting to Islam to marry more than one. However, the Hindu Marriage Act provides that unless the first wife is alive and divorced, a second marriage cannot take place.

So is there no law to stop forced conversions?
Senior Advocate Ujjwal Nikam states that there is no law in our Constitution to stop forced religion. In our Constitution, anyone can change his religion on his own free will. However, the law also says that it is a crime to convert someone against their will and to intimidate someone.

Can state governments enact laws to stop conversion.

  • This time Ujjwal Nikam says that states have the right to make their own laws. However, it is necessary for the President to be signed after passing the assembly. Laws are made only after the President’s sign.
  • Can these laws be challenged even in the Supreme Court? In response to this question, Nikam says yes of course. Even after the President’s sign, the validity of these laws can be challenged in the Supreme Court.

Which states are bringing laws to stop forced conversions or alleged love jihad?

  • The Shivraj government in Madhya Pradesh is bringing a law to stop the alleged love jihad. Its ordinance has been brought. Home Minister Narottam Mishra says that it will be passed in the Assembly in December. Although Madhya Pradesh had a law since 1968, it was not so strict. Therefore, instead of this law, the government is bringing a new law.
  • Apart from Madhya Pradesh, the Yogi government of Uttar Pradesh is also bringing legislation for this. Its ordinance has been passed in the cabinet. This law provides for a punishment of up to 10 years for forcible conversion. Apart from MP, UP, there is talk of bringing legislation to prevent alleged love jihad in Karnataka, Haryana, Assam as well.

Are there laws to prevent forced conversions in a state?
Yes, right now 9 states of the country have strict laws to prevent forced conversions. Earlier, Tamil Nadu also had a law for it, but it was repealed in 2003.

Are there laws to prevent this in other countries as well?
Yes, India’s neighboring countries also have laws to prevent forced conversions. Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have such laws. Pakistan has the highest number of religious conversion cases, but there is a provision of life imprisonment for forcible conversion. Here the Muslim community keeps demanding to repeal this law.

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