Uttarakhand Police To Scrutinise Interfaith Marriages In The Past Five Years For Possible 'Anti-Conversion' Law Violations: Report

The Uttarakhand police have reportedly decided to examine all interfaith marriages that occurred in the past five years for possible violation of the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act (Amendment) 2022.

According to the State ADG (law & order) V Murugesan, the SSPs and SPs of all 13 districts have been asked to assess and take appropriate legal action if any violation of the Act is found.

The police will take action regardless of the violator's previous faith and the faith they converted to. “We have written to the SSPs and SPs of all the 13 districts regarding the move. Appropriate legal action would be taken by the district police units concerned in case any violation of the Act is found, irrespective of the faiths the violator used to follow and converted to," Murugeshan was quoted as saying by Times of India.

The exercise will reportedly examination of all interfaith marriages conducted after the Act's implementation in 2018.

The Act, implemented five years ago, mandates the person undergoing conversion to notify the district magistrate or executive magistrate of the area at least a month before the conversion.

The anti-conversion Act not only makes it mandatory for the person undergoing conversion but also for the religious person aiding in the conversion.

The amendment in the act, implemented on 21 December last year, increased the penalties for forced conversion, making it a non-bailable offence with imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 50,000.

In case it was found that the faith was changed, the police will investigate whether the conversion followed the prescribed procedure according to the Act or if it was forced upon the person by their partner.

Regardless of the duration of the marriage, legal action will be taken against the accused if it is found that the procedure was not followed.

In case of a forced conversion, the police will also take legal action against the individuals behind the act.

Since the implementation of the Act in 2018, 18 cases of violation have been registered up until 15 June this year, according to an official cited in the ToI report.