K’taka anti-conversion ordinance gets guv nod

THE GOVERNMENT PROMULGATED THE ORDINANCE ON MAY 12

HT Correspondent

BENGALURU: Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Tuesday gave his assent to the ordinance that gave effect to the Karnataka Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021, also known as the anti-conversion bill.

“An ordinance to provide for the protection of the right to freedom of religion and prohibition of unlawful conversion from one religion to another by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement, or by any fraudulent means,” according to a government note.

“Whereas the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and the Karnataka Legislative Council are not in session and the Hon’ble Governor of Karnataka is satisfied that the circumstances exist which render it necessary for him to take immediate action to promulgate the Ordinance....,” read the gazette notification.

Modelled on similar laws in other Bharatiya Janata Party (Bjp)-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh

and Madhya Pradesh, the bill was passed in the assembly in December last year, but it was not tabled before the state’s upper house, where the ruling BJP is one short of a majority. The Karnataka government promulgated the Karnataka Protection of Right To Freedom of Religion Ordinance on May 12. An ordinance can be brought for six months when the legislature is not in session. It has to be converted into law within six weeks of the start of a session, or else it will lapse.

The bill proposes imprisonment from three to five years with a fine of ₹25,000. For violation of provisions concerning minors, women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, offenders will face imprisonment from three to 10 years and a fine of not less than ₹50,000.