MP Cabinet passes anti-conversion bill with 10 years prison term

The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet on December 26 passed by a voice vote a bill aimed at curbing religious conversions. If passed into law, it will include a maximum punishment of up to 10 years in jail and up to Rs.1 lakh in fine, with the burden of proof virtually falling on the accused and those associated with the accused, including organisations and institutions.

The Dharma Swatantrya (Religious Freedom) Bill 2020 was tabled at a meeting of the state Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, ahead of the Legislative Assembly session slated to be held later this month.

Those looking to change their religion will have to notify two months ahead, failing which the marriage will be considered null and void under the new law.

Chief Minister Chouhan had said that it will ensure that no religious conversion is carried out forcefully, or by tempting someone or through marriage.

The Madhya Pradesh government’s move comes months after a similar law was passed by fiat by the Uttar Pradesh government of Yogi Adityanath. Following the passing of the law in the northern Indian state, several cases of alleged abuse of the law surfaced.

On December 25, two teenagers walking home from a friend’s birthday party in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor were ambushed, harassed and taken to a police station in an incident that ended up being filed as a case of “love jihad” under the controversial new anti-conversion law.

Several legal luminaries, including retired judges such as Justices Madan B Lokur and AP Shah had said the UP ordinance was unsustainable and must be nullified immediately.