Karnataka Cabinet Clears Draft Of Anti-Conversion Bill

Karnataka cabinet has cleared the draft of the anti-conversion bill on Monday (20 December). At the winter session in Belagavi, despite loud opposition from all other parties, the draft is likely to be tabled before the house in the next week.

All opposition parties have been vocal against the controversial Karnataka Protection of Right To Freedom Of Religion Bill 2021, which, as reported, proposes penal action on anyone who indulges in conversion of persons belonging to scheduled castes, tribes, minors and women to another religion.

The bill is said to include all those who 'misrepresent, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means or by marriage, or abet or conspire such conversion.'

There will be provision for imprisonment of those who indulge in mass conversion from three to 10 years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh. The 'religious converter' will be required to give one month's prior notice in 'form-II of such conversion' to the district magistrate or any other officer not below the rank of the additional district magistrate.

Marriages done for the sole purpose of unlawful conversion or vice-versa will be declared void. However, this Act will not attract the penal provisions of the Act for reconverting to his immediate previous religion.

As per the draft, those who attempt to convert a minor, a woman or a person belonging to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe will be punished with imprisonment for a term, which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to 10 years and shall be liable to fine, which shall be not less than Rs 50,000.

Mass conversion will be liable for punishment of imprisonment from three to 10 years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh, in addition to which the victim can claim compensation of up to Rs 5 lakh.

The offences attracting the provisions of the proposed Act will be non-bailable and cognisable. Whoever wishes to convert will be required to declare to the district magistrate (DM) that he/she is doing so on his free consent and without any force, coercion, undue influence or allurement.

The DM is required to conduct an enquiry through police and ascertain the real intention, purpose and cause of the proposed religious conversion. Any institution or organisation which violates the provisions of the proposed Act shall be subject to punishment, and their registration will be cancelled by the competent authority upon reference made by the DM.