Himachal assembly to discuss conversion bill today

August 13, 2022 09:23

Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur in the state assembly

A bill introduced to make a specific mention of "mass conversion" in an existing law that forbids change of religion through force or allurement and to enhance punishment will be discussed in the Himachal Pradesh assembly on the last day of its monsoon session on Saturday.

The Jai Ram Thakur-led government had introduced The Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2022, on Friday.

It is a more stringent version of The Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2019, which came into force just a little over 18 months ago.

The 2019 bill was notified only on December 21, 2020 -- 15 months after it was passed in the state assembly.

The 2019 version had in turn replaced a 2006 law, which prescribed lesser punishments.

The amendment bill proposes to increase the punishment for forced conversions to a maximum of 10 years from a maximum of seven years.

It stipulates that the complaints made under the Act will be investigated by a police officer not below the rank of a sub inspector.

The offences will now be tried by a sessions court.

"In order to make the Act more effective, some minor changes are being made in the punishment clauses," the chief minister had said while introducing the bill on Friday.

The Act prohibits conversion by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, inducement, marriage or any fraudulent means.

Any marriage for the sole purpose of conversion is declared "null and void" under Section 5 of the Act. -- PTI

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