'More Stringent, Wider': Uttar Pradesh Assembly Passes Amendments To Anti-Conversion Law, Here's What It Means

The Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday (30 July) passed the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Bill 2024.

The bill tabled on Monday under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath proposes amendments to the state's Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act 2021.

The amendments aim to make the existing law more stringent by increasing the maximum punishment from 10 years to life imprisonment and more holistic by covering for the loopholes.

Why Is The Bill Brought

The statement of Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Bill 2024 calls the existing penal provisions "not sufficient" to deal with cases of vulnerable groups.

The new bill focuses on preventing and controlling religious conversion and mass conversion of minor, disabled, mentally challenged persons, women or persons belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST).

It aims to resolve certain difficulties that have arisen in the past in various cases regarding legal matters. With increased fine and penalties and stringent bail conditions, it aims to counter organised conversions.

What Are The Changes

1. Widening the ambit for filing a complaint, the bill allows "any person" to give information about the violation of the act, instead of the earlier law that allowed only relatives of the victim to file a first information report (FIR).

2. If anyone puts any person in fear of his life or property, assaults or uses force, promises or instigates marriage is liable to a minimum imprisonment of 20 years, which can extend to life imprisonment.

3. A similar punishment is for one who conspires or induces any minor, woman or person to traffic or otherwise sells them or abets, attempts or conspires on this behalf, to safeguard minors and women.

The fine extracted from such cases will be directed to the victim for medical expenses and rehabilitation. The court can also ask the accused to pay compensation up to Rs 5 lakh, other than the fine.

4. To deter funding of religious activities from foreign or illegal sources, the bill has a provision of a minimum of seven years of imprisonment, which may extend to 14 years and a minimum fine of Rs 10 lakh.

5. For violating the law with respect to a minor, disabled or mentally challenged person, woman or person belonging to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe, the provision is of up to 14 years of imprisonment.

This is an increase from 10 years imprisonment in the existing act. The minimum fine is also increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 lakh.

6. For mass religious conversions, jail term is increased from three to 10 years to seven to 14 years and fine is increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh.

7. While the existing act already called the offences cognisable and non-bailable, to make it more stringent, certain conditions have been laid for bail. For example, the prosecution should have argued against the bail plea and the sessions court should be satisfied that the accused is not guilty or will not cause any harm when out on bail.