On Tuesday, The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet cleared a draft ordinance to stop “unlawful religious conversions” and “inter-faith marriages with the sole intention of converting a girl’s religion”, with provision for a prison term for as long as 10 years.
A government statement read: “Those having the conversion done in violation of the provisions of the proposed law would need to face a prison term of as long as ten years.” If it is discovered that the conversion is done “forcibly, through cheating or atrocity”, the offense will be non-bailable.
Singh, Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister, said the ordinance was a “historic” decision important to maintain law and order and to “give justice” to women particularly those from the SC and ST communities group.
Singh said the proposed law has a provision of a prison term of 1 to 5 years, and a base fine of Rs 15,000. However, in the event that the girl belongs to the Scheduled Tribe or Scheduled Caste or a minor, the person can be imprisoned for 3 to 10 years, with a base fine of Rs 25,000.
In case of mass conversions performed through cheating or forcibly, the prison term would be from 3 to 10 years, with a base fine of Rs 50,000.
Singh stated said that if someone wants to convert their religion after marriage, an application will have to be submitted to the district magistrate two months in advance. The conversion can take place if permission is granted.
In the previous year, the UP State Law Commission had presented a report regarding the matter to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, alongside a draft ‘Uttar Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2019’, indicating that a “conversion that is done for the sole purpose of marriage to be announced null and void”.
The process to bring a law was sped up after Adityanath as of late said at a public meeting in Jaunpur that those waging “love jihad” should either mend their ways or be ready for their last journey – “Ram Naam Satya hai ki yatra nikalne wali hai”.
The BJP-ruled state of Madhya Pradesh and Haryana have additionally looked to bring a law to check what they say is “love jihad”. In the previous week, at least five Opposition-ruled states censured the move as an encroachment on personal liberty, and an attempt to a communal divide in the nation.
