Rajasthan conversion Bill returned by Centre

Rajasthan conversion Bill returned by Centre

Context:

The Religious Freedom Bill passed by the Rajasthan Assembly in 2008, aimed at banning forcible religious conversions, was returned by the Union government as it deviated from the national policy.

Introduction:

• According to the Rajasthan government, the Bill was sent back for “further clarifications”.
• The Bill, called Rajasthan Dharma Swatantraya Bill, 2008, is now under the consideration of the Union home ministry.
• The state government is making attempts to get the President’s nod for the Bill that has been pending since 2008, the year it was passed.
• The state government recently filed an affidavit in the court in response to a notice on a habeas corpus writ petition seeking production of 22-year-old girl, who has converted from her religion and married a Muslim man.
• The court had asked whether there was any law or procedure in force in Rajasthan that governed concersions.

The Religious Freedom Bill:

• The Bill defined “conversion” as “renouncing one’s own religion and adopting another” through “fraudulent means” or any other “fraudulent contrivance.”
• The Bill has provisions for prison terms of up to five years.
• It also contains a clause for cancellation of registration of organizations held guilty of abetting conversions.
• According to the Religious Freedom Bill, In the case of forcible conversion, forgery or fraud, the accused will be sentenced to one to three years and fine of Rs 25 thousand will be imposed.
• Changing the religion of a person who is less than 18 years of age or children of a woman or SC-ST category will have a sentence of 2 to 5 years and a fine of up to Rs 50 thousand.
• The registration of organizations which are found to be working illegally in religion can be canceled.
• The collector can give permission for religious conversion only after investigating the matter.
• If a person returns to the original religion, then he will not have to inform the District Magistrate. Returning to the original religion will not be considered as a crime.
• The religious conversion of a child below 18 years of age cannot be allowed.