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Rajasthan’s Bill Against ‘Unlawful’ Religious Conversions

Last updated on February 6th, 2025 Posted on February 6, 2025 by NEXT IAS Current Affairs Team  494

Syllabus: GS 2/Governance 

In News

  • Recently, the Rajasthan Government introduced a Bill to prevent religious conversions carried out by force, fraud or inducement.

About

  • Rajasthan’s first attempt to introduce an anti-conversion law was in 2006 but faced opposition and was returned by the President.
  • In 2017, Rajasthan High Court issued guidelines to prevent forcible conversions in the absence of a law.
  • The new Bill follows the lines of anti-conversion laws already present in states like Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Key Provisions

  • Unlawful conversion: It includes conversion through coercion, force, allurement (cash, benefits, etc.), or fraud.
  • Burden of proof: The accused person must prove that the conversion was not done unlawfully.
  • Filing of FIR: Blood relatives (parents, siblings, etc.) of the aggrieved can file an FIR in suspected cases.
  • Punishments: 
    • General unlawful conversion: 1 to 5 years in jail, fine of Rs 15,000.
      • Conversion of minor, woman, or SC/ST: 2 to 10 years in jail, fine of Rs 25,000.
    • Mass conversions: 3 to 10 years in jail, fine of Rs 50,000.
    • Repeat offenders face double the punishment for each offence.
    • All offences are cognizable and non-bailable.
  • Voluntary Conversion Process: Converts must fill a declaration form and submit it to the District Magistrate (DM) 60 days in advance.
    • A month’s advance notice must be given to the DM for the ceremony.
    • The person performing the conversion ceremony must also notify the DM 30 days before.
    • An officer will conduct an inquiry into the intention and purpose of the conversion.
    • A declaration of the conversion must be filed with the DM, including details like the convert’s identity, religion before and after conversion, etc.
    • The convert must appear before the DM within 21 days of the declaration for verification.

Need and Purpose of the Bill

  • The government claims that many gullible individuals are being converted unlawfully.
  • The Bill aims to balance religious freedom with preventing fraudulent conversion.
  • It was aimed at preventing forcible conversions and conversions through coercion, force, allurement, or fraud.
Do you know?
– The Constituent Assembly discussed the inclusion of the right to propagate religion as part of the fundamental rights.
– Some members were concerned that the right to propagate could lead to forceful conversions and wanted to replace the word “propagate” with “practise privately”.
– Article 25(1) grants all persons the freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practise, and propagate religion.
1. This guarantees equal religious freedom to everyone, but with certain limitations in the interest of public order, morality, and health.

Source :IE

 
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