Uttarakhand cabinet gives nod to proposal for stricter law on forced conversion
The state government also reached an informal consensus on the proposal to shift Uttarakhand High Court from Nainital to Haldwani. The decisions were taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. More than 20 such proposals were passed in the meeting.
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Deharadun, Nov 17: In awake of the spine-chilling inter-faith love case that came to light in Delhi, Uttarakhand state has made its anti-conversion law stricter by making forced conversion a cognisable and non-bailable offence with a provision for 10-year imprisonment.
The decisions were taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. More than 20 such proposals were passed in the meeting.
“Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act, 2018, was passed with the intention to equally strengthen the importance of every religion in the state under the right to freedom of religion given by Articles 25, 26, 27 and 28. Under the current, changed circumstances, and to strengthen the law, Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Act, 2022, is being passed by the Cabinet,” a source in the government said.
The 2018 state anti-conversion law stipulates a prison term of up to five years for anyone convicted of “forced or fraudulent” conversion.In November 2020, UP Governor Anandiben Patel had promulgated the ordinance against “forced” or “fraudulent” religious conversions. The ordinance became an Act in March 2021.
The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020, provides for a jail term of up to 10 years for any violation. All offences under the ordinance shall be cognizable, non-bailable and triable by the court of sessions, it says.