{"id":75696,"date":"2021-01-07T11:20:05","date_gmt":"2021-01-07T05:50:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=75696"},"modified":"2021-01-25T11:43:40","modified_gmt":"2021-01-25T06:13:40","slug":"laws-against-inter-faith-marriage-and-fundamental-rights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/laws-against-inter-faith-marriage-and-fundamental-rights\/","title":{"rendered":"Laws against Inter-faith marriage and Fundamental rights"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Synopsis<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2013\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Uttar<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Pradesh recently passed an ordinance which criminalizes inter\u00adfaith marriages, which is against the exercise of the free will of individual citizens in India.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Introduction-\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u00b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"17\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">UP ordinance which criminalizes inter-faith marriages h<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">as set an extreme example<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, being followed by other states like MP.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u00b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"17\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In these\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">states\u2019<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">other laws on slaughter of cattle, marriage, and religious conversions\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">have been enacted targeted at minorities of the state.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u00b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"17\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Uttarakhand<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, a\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">recent\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">divergent view attracted an enquiry<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0over a press release\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">by district<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0social welfare department\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">that\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">highlighted a scheme\u00a0incentivizing\u00a0 inter-faith and inter-caste marriages<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How interfaith marriages were seen in the\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">past<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u00b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"13\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">First, Nehru\u2019s view<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2013 Chaudhary\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">charan<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">singh<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0in 1994, Sends a proposal to Prime Minister Nehru to pass a law that would ensure only those youth who married outside, or were prepared to marry outside, their caste be recruited in\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">gazetted<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0government services.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"o\" data-font=\"Courier New\" data-listid=\"16\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Charan\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">singh<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0believed the intractable issue of caste required drastic measures to start the process of its disintegration.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"o\" data-font=\"&quot;Courier New&quot;\" data-listid=\"14\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">But<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Nehru disagrees with his proposal on account of freedom of choice of individuals to choose their life partner.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u00b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"13\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Second,\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Kusubh<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Chandra\u00a0<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">sen\u2019s<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0view<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2013 The very first debate for legal marriage in India dates back to the 1860s, when the colonial State received a petition signed by\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Keshub<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Chandra Sen of Brahmo Samaj, to\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">legitimise<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0marriages amongst the members of Brahmo Samaj. The motive was to provide the Samaj the right to freely marry as per their \u2018<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">rites of conscience\u2019.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u00b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"13\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Third, Special Marriage Act, 1954<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2013 SMA is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted to provide a special form of marriage for the people of India and all Indian nationals in foreign countries, irrespective of the religion or faith followed by either party.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">However, States such as Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh framing laws that target inter-faith marriage.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The procedural requirements of the SMA such as the need to give prior notice, and allowance for objections, seem to be undermining its original intent by opening the doors to violent moral policing by vigilante groups.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What are t<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">he issues related to these new laws<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Interference by the State in an adult\u2019s right to love and marry has a \u2018chilling effect\u2019 on freedoms<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">First, against personal liberty-<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">These new laws<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0intervene in the citizens\u2019 personal liberty by interfering with the choice of their spouse.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Second, Against the Right to Privacy<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2013 The level of state interference in a civil union, which is a solemnization of a relationship between two individuals, breaches the basic structure of the Constitution.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Third, Hinder the individual\u2019s Right to choose faith<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2013 According to\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Articles 25 to 28<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, an Indian citizen is guaranteed the freedom to practice any religion of his or her\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">choice.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0ordinance is a conflict with these\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">rights\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">as it limits the choice of the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">religion of\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">a prospective spouse<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Lastly, Patriarchal Roots-<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0This shows the law has deep-seated patriarchal roots, wherein women are infantilized, placed under parental and community control, and denied the right to take life decisions, should those decisions not be agreeable to their guardians.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Constitution of India offers high principles for citizens to aspire for. Citizens may not have been lived up to these principles but it was the intent that individual try to achieve those principles by doing better to the society.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Laws in questions are doing exact opposite by going\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">against<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0these principles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Way forward-<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Based on the judicial pronouncements it is clear that the Right to marry a person belongs to another faith is a Fundamental Right<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It is for the court to\u202f<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">suo<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">motu<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u202fstrike these laws down if it wants to preserve the basic structure of the constitutional edifice.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Synopsis\u2013\u00a0Uttar\u00a0Pradesh recently passed an ordinance which criminalizes inter\u00adfaith marriages, which is against the exercise of the free will of individual citizens in India.\u00a0 Introduction-\u00a0\u00a0 UP ordinance which criminalizes inter-faith marriages has set an extreme example, being followed by other states like MP.\u00a0\u00a0 In these\u00a0states\u2019\u00a0other laws on slaughter of cattle, marriage, and religious conversions\u00a0have been enacted&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/laws-against-inter-faith-marriage-and-fundamental-rights\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Laws against Inter-faith marriage and Fundamental rights<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":75707,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1230,1351,1310,9],"tags":[1572,1301,1396,1294],"class_list":["post-75696","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-9-pm-daily-articles","category-daily-news","category-daily-news-updates","category-public","tag-inter_faith_marriages","tag-po_3","tag-soc_5","tag-soty_2","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Laws-against-Inter-faith-marriage-and-Fundamental-rights.jpg?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1","views":{"total":0,"cached_at":"","cached_date":1704804547},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75696","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/61"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=75696"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75696\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/75707"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75696"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=75696"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=75696"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}