No Proposal To Make Central Anti Conversion Law To Curb Inter Faith Marriage: Centre In Lok Sabha

The Central Government has stated in Lok Sabha that it does not propose to make a Central Anti Conversion Law to curb interfaith marriages.

Minister of State in Ministry of Home Affairs G. Kishan Reddy said thus while replying to some queries by some Members of Parliament.

The Government was asked whether it is of the view that interfaith marriages are happening due to forceful conversions and whether it intends to propose a central Anti Conversion Law to curb interfaith marriages.

"'Public Order' and 'Police' are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. Hence prevention, detection, registration, investigation and prosecution of offences related to religious conversions are primarily the concerns of the State Governments/Union Territory (UT) Administrations. Action is taken as per existing laws by the law enforcing agencies whenever instances of violation come to notice.", the Minister said.

Recently, the Allahabad High Court had dismissed a plea seeking a direction to the Centre to consider legislating a law regulating the religious conversion on the pattern of the law legislated on the subject by the State of U.P. and other States.

Recent controversy over Anti Conversion law began after promulgation of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance 2020 (Uttar Pradesh Vidhi Viruddh Dharm Samparivartan Pratishedh Adhyadesh 2020). The same is under challenge before the Allahabad High Court.

Similarly, the Madhya Pradesh High Court is also considering a challenge made against the anti-religious conversion ordinance viz. Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Ordinance, 2020. Petitions challenging the laws made by Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in the name of 'love jihad' against religious conversions for the sake of marriage, are pending before the Supreme Court as well.