NEW DELHI, Nov 14: The Supreme Court on Monday termed the forced religious conversion a “very serious” issue that affects the security of the nation and asked the Centre to step in and make sincere efforts to check the practice.
It also warned that a “very difficult situation” might emerge if forced religious conversions are not stopped and asked the centre to file its response through an affidavit in a week informing steps being taken to prevent such occurrence.
A bench of Justices M R Shah and Hima Kohli asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to enumerate measures to curb the practice through allurement. “If it (forced religious conversion) is found to be correct and true, it is a very serious issue that may ultimately affect the security of the nation and the freedom of conscience and religion of citizens. Sincere efforts are to be made by the Centre to stop forced conversions. Otherwise very difficult situation will come. Tell us what action do you propose….You have to step in.”
The order was passed on a PIL filed by Delhi BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay seeking direction to the Centre and states to take stringent steps to control fraudulent religious conversion by “intimidation, threatening, deceivingly luring through gifts and monetary benefits.” The petition also sought to get an offence of forced conversions inserted in the Indian Penal Code. The court will examine the matter again on November 28.
(Manas Dasgupta)
