Such a bill passed by the Karnataka legislative assembly is commendable. Now efforts should be made towards passing the law on a national scale as well as implementing it. – Editor, HinduJagruti.org
New Delhi : The Karnatak legislative assembly on Thursday passed the Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021 popularly known as the anti-conversion bill amid protests.
The Congress vehemently opposed the bill, calling it “anti people”, “inhuman”, “anti constitutional”, “anti poor” and “draconian”, and urged that it should not be passed for any reason and should be withdrawn by the government.
JD(S) too expressed its opposition to the bill, which was introduced in the assembly on Tuesday. The bill was passed by a voice vote, even as Congress members were protesting from the well of the House, demanding continuation of the debate on the bill, that began this morning.
Explaining the “Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021”, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy said that the bill’s initiation was started by the Law Commission of Karnataka under the advice of the then Congress government in 2016, led by Siddaramaiah, with couple of changes.
He said, “during the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in 2016, under the aegis of the Social Welfare Department, the Law Commission had prepared a draft bill, which was scrutinised by the scrutiny committee but had not come before the cabinet. We have proceeded with what they had initiated and left.”
What is Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill?
The ‘Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021’, provides for the protection of the right to freedom of religion and prohibition of unlawful conversion from one religion to another by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement, or by any fraudulent means.
The bill proposes an imprisonment from three to five years with a fine of Rs 25,000, while for violation of provisions with respect to minors, women, SC/ST, offenders will face imprisonment from three to 10 years and a fine of not less than Rs 50,000.
The bill also makes provisions for the accused to pay up to Rs five lakh as compensation to those who were made to convert, and with regards to cases of mass conversion, the bill proposes 3-10 years jail term and a fine of up to Rs one lakh.
It also states that any marriage which has happened for the sole purpose of unlawful conversion or vice-versa by the man of one religion with the woman of another religion, either by converting himself before or after marriage or by converting the woman before or after marriage, shall be declared as null and void by the family court.
Where the family court is not established, the court has jurisdiction to try such a case, on a petition presented by either party thereto against the other party of the marriage. The offense under this bill is non-bailable and cognizable.
The bill mandates that the persons who wish to convert to another faith shall give a declaration in a prescribed format at least 30 days in advance to the District Magistrate or the Additional District Magistrate specially authorised by the District Magistrate in this regard of his residing district or place of birth within the state.
Also, the person who wishes to convert will lose the religion of his or her origin and facilities or benefits attached with it, including reservations; however, one is likely to receive the benefits entitled to, in the religion he or she converts to.
Source : Times of India
