The Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Monday handed the anti-conversion invoice, Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021. The invoice has a provision of a jail time period of up to 10 years and a nice of Rs 1 lakh for conversion via “marriage or by any other fraudulent means”. The invoice was tabled by state Home Minister Narottam Mishra.
According to a PTI report, the invoice is comparable to the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020. Offences below the law will probably be cognisable and non-bailable. The new invoice seeks to change the Religious Freedom Act of 1968.
According to Home Minister Narottam Mishra, the law is most stringent within the nation. Any marriage solemnised in violation of the law will probably be thought of null and void.
With the new laws in place, the BJP authorities desires to prohibit religious conversion or such efforts by misrepresentation, allurement, drive, undue affect, coercion, marriage or every other fraudulent means. Abetment and conspiracy for religious conversion can even be prohibited below the law.
Those prepared to convert would want to apply to the district administration 60 days upfront. The religious leaders facilitating the conversion would even have to inform about it 60 days upfront. Violation of those provisions would appeal to a jail time period and nice as effectively.
In instances of religious conversion of members of the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and minors, a provision has been made for imprisonment and nice additionally. The law has a provision of three to 10 years of imprisonment and nice of Rs 50,000 in instances of marriage carried out by hiding faith, misrepresentation or impersonation.
In case of mass conversions (of two or extra individuals), a provision of 5 to 10 years of imprisonment and a minimal nice of Rs 1 lakh has been made. Repeat offenders would face 5 to 10 years of imprisonment. The registration of any organisation concerned in such violation will probably be cancelled. Religious conversion in violation of this law could be thought of null and void.
READ MORE: ‘Freedom of Religion’ law to present for upto 10-year jail for offence in Madhya Pradesh
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