‘Unconstitutional’: HC on rule in MP conversion law

BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh high court has termed “unconstitutional” a mandatory provision of MP Freedom of Religion Act 2021 of informing the district magistrate before undergoing religious conversion, and restrained the state government from prosecuting adults if they solemnise the marriage of their own volition.

Hearing at least seven petitions against the law, a bench of justices Sujoy Paul and Prakash Chandra Gupta said: “A strong prima facie case is made out by the petitioners for grant of interim protection in relation to marriage of two adult citizens on their volition and against any coercive action for violation of Section 10 of the Act of 21 (MP Freedom of Religion Act).”

“Section 10 makes it obligatory for a citizen desiring conversion to give a declaration in this regard to the District Magistrate which in our opinion ex facie, unconstitutional in the teeth of aforesaid judgments of this Court. Thus, till further orders, respondent shall not prosecute the adult citizens if they solemnize marriage on their own volition and shall not take coercive action for violation of Section 10 of Act of 21,” reads the order.