Breaking news from India’s Supreme Court: notices have been dispatched to 12 states regarding their stringent anti-conversion laws, with replies due in a month. The development follows a comprehensive petition exposing their alleged flaws.
The National Council of Churches in India spearheads the effort against laws in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Odisha. Violations cited include breaches of religious liberty, equal protection, and individual freedoms enshrined in the Constitution.
Highlighting patterns of targeted harassment, the plea notes how these laws enable false claims against Christian communities and others, urging a freeze on prosecutions pending adjudication.
Hearing will merge with prior petitions since 2020, under a three-judge bench for thorough analysis. Provisions generally prohibit conversions by fraud, coercion, undue influence, or matrimony without due process like notifications.
Defenders argue necessity against predatory practices; detractors see anti-minority agendas. The discourse pits voluntary belief against regulatory hurdles, testing India’s pluralistic ideals.
Observers predict this could culminate in a defining verdict, bolstering rights frameworks and curbing legislative excesses. It spotlights enduring struggles for faith-based equity in a multifaceted society.