Latest news with #UttarakhandFreedomofReligion
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Too harsh, too vague
Uttarakhand is following in big brother UP's footsteps as its state cabinet approves what can be fairly described as draconian amendments in anti-conversion law via the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill 2025. Aside from harsher punishment (minimum prison sentence of seven years, fine up to ₹10L) and expanding its scope (property seized), the law is even more problematic thanks to loosely worded conditions defining the offence. For instance, inducement/allurement has been expanded to include 'glorifying one religion against another'. It bans 'social media applications aimed at building online communities of people who share interests and activities or are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others…' for the purposes of the law. Whatever does this mean? The law in a 2022 amendment had already imported terms of the most stringent of laws – anti-terror legislation UAPA. So, 'illegal conversion' is a cognisable nonbailable offence, police already need no warrant to arrest, suspicion will suffice, and the burden of proof is on the accused. New amendments increase jail-term to life of 14 years. Similar to UP's law, if convicted of illegal conversion of minors or SC/ST, jail-term may be 20 years or remainder of life. Mass conversion is defined as 'when the religion of two or more persons is converted'. CM Dhami justifies the amendments because allegedly a 'demographic change' is being wrought in the state through 'illegal/forced conversion'. For the record, Uttarakhand population is 83% Hindu, about 14% Muslim, a smattering of Christians and others. The long arm of the law has stretched into what is legislative and executive overreach. The legislation is to be amended to allow local govt to confiscate property belonging to the accused if there is not evidence, but mere suspicion of 'foreign funds' being involved. DMs can order seizure of any property they have 'reason to believe' is related to alleged conversion. And this can be done '…regardless, whether a court has taken cognisance of such offence.' This, when the burden of proof is already on the accused. There is disquiet in the state about harsh measures being exploited by officials for witch-hunts. A law where anyone can be arrested on mere suspicion of 'intent', where the accused's property can be seized, which places the onus of proving the charges wrong on the accused is at the least a poorly designed legislation. It demands a thorough review, or reversal. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
Mint
5 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Uttarakhand to toughen anti-conversion law; life imprisonment, ₹10 lakh fine proposed — check details
The Uttarakhand government's move to bring another legislation to amend the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act is expected to make the law even more stringent. The amendment, approved by the state cabinet, aims to prevent religious conversions through coercion, fraud, or undue influence. The amendment legislation, approved by the state cabinet on Wednesday, proposes a maximum punishment of life imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹ 10 lakh for forced conversion. Currently, the maximum prison term for the offence in the state is 10 years and the highest fine is ₹ 50,000. This is the second legislation to amend the Act, which has been in force in the state since 2018. The first amendment was made in 2022. The Pushkar Singh Dhami-led government is preparing to introduce the legislation during the monsoon session of the state assembly, which is scheduled to begin on August 19, reported news agency PTI, citing sources. According to the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (amendment) legislation, 2025, fraudulent or forced conversion would be a cognizable and non-bailable offence. In such cases, police will be allowed to arrest an offender without a warrant and bail will be granted only if the trial court (sessions court) is convinced that the accused is not guilty and would not repeat the offence. "Yet another amendment legislation to make the law even more strict has been occasioned by recent cases of conversions in the state aimed at demographic change," PTIquoted Ajendra Ajay, BJP leader and former chairman of Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple committee, as saying. Terming the cabinet's decision as historic, Ajay said: "An amended act with stricter provisions will work as a strong deterrent for potential offenders and help preserve the original identity of a border state like Uttarakhand, which is also known as Devbhoomi." The Bill also expands the definition of inducement to include any gift, gratification, easy money, or material benefit in cash or kind, employment, free education, promise of marriage, hurting religious faith, or glorifying another religion, categorising all of them as crimes.
Mint
5 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Uttarakhand to toughen anti-conversion law; life imprisonment, ₹10 lakh fine proposed — check details
The Uttarakhand government's move to bring another legislation to amend the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act is expected to make the law even more stringent. The amendment, approved by the state cabinet, aims to prevent religious conversions through coercion, fraud, or undue influence. The amendment legislation, approved by the state cabinet on Wednesday, proposes a maximum punishment of life imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹ 10 lakh for forced conversion. Currently, the maximum prison term for the offence in the state is 10 years and the highest fine is ₹ 50,000. This is the second legislation to amend the Act, which has been in force in the state since 2018. The first amendment was made in 2022. The Pushkar Singh Dhami-led government is preparing to introduce the legislation during the monsoon session of the state assembly, which is scheduled to begin on August 19, reported news agency PTI, citing sources. According to the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (amendment) legislation, 2025, fraudulent or forced conversion would be a cognizable and non-bailable offence. In such cases, police will be allowed to arrest an offender without a warrant and bail will be granted only if the trial court (sessions court) is convinced that the accused is not guilty and would not repeat the offence. "Yet another amendment legislation to make the law even more strict has been occasioned by recent cases of conversions in the state aimed at demographic change," PTI quoted Ajendra Ajay, BJP leader and former chairman of Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple committee, as saying. Terming the cabinet's decision as historic, Ajay said: "An amended act with stricter provisions will work as a strong deterrent for potential offenders and help preserve the original identity of a border state like Uttarakhand, which is also known as Devbhoomi." The Bill also expands the definition of inducement to include any gift, gratification, easy money, or material benefit in cash or kind, employment, free education, promise of marriage, hurting religious faith, or glorifying another religion, categorising all of them as crimes. It also makes punishable acts such as promoting or inciting conversion through social media, messaging apps, or any online medium.
