In a significant move, the Supreme Court of India has issued notices to 12 states challenging their controversial anti-conversion laws. The court has sought responses within four weeks, signaling a potential review of these statutes’ constitutionality.
The petition, filed by the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), targets laws in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Odisha. These laws, aimed at curbing forced or fraudulent religious conversions, are accused of violating fundamental rights including religious freedom, personal liberty, and equality.
The NCCI argues that the provisions infringe on privacy and the right to choose one’s faith freely. They claim these laws are being misused against minority communities, particularly Christians, leading to harassment through false accusations. The petitioners have urged the court for interim relief, asking to halt any police or administrative actions under these laws until a final verdict.
The Supreme Court bench clarified that this case will be heard alongside similar pending petitions from 2020, which also question the validity of such state legislations. A three-judge bench will deliberate to ensure a comprehensive examination of all aspects.
These anti-conversion laws typically require prior permission for conversions, public declarations, and impose penalties for violations involving coercion, inducement, fraud, or marriage. Critics view them as tools to target minorities, undermining India’s secular fabric.
This development reignites the debate on balancing state intervention with individual religious rights. Legal experts anticipate a landmark judgment that could reshape the landscape of religious freedom in the country, reinforcing constitutional protections amid rising communal tensions.