Marriage is being used as tool for forced religious conversion: Uttar Pradesh govt to Allahabad HC | Allahabad News – Times of India
PRAYAGRAJ: The Uttar Pradesh government has vehemently defended the anti-conversion law in its affidavit before the Allahabad high court, stating that “since marriage is being used as an instrument to convert an individual’s religion against his/her will, the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021 seeks to remedy the malady”.
Following a direction of the high court, the affidavit of the UP government was filed in response to the bunch of public interest litigations (PILs) challenging the said Act.
Significantly, while stressing that the community interest will always prevail over the individual interest, the UP government has added that the law in challenge seeks to protect public interest and maintain public order, and safeguards the interest of the community.
“When there is fear psychosis in the community at large and the community itself is endangered and succumbs to the pressure resulting in forceful conversion, it becomes necessary that the interest of the community as a whole requires protection and no microanalysis of individual interest can be looked into,” the affidavit further added before the court.
It has been asserted in the affidavit that the law is identical in nature to the laws that are already in existence at least in eight states of the country. Besides Uttar Pradesh, such a law is prevalent in neighbouring countries like Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Pakistan also.
Further, the affidavit stated that there is ample data in public record which shows that forcible conversions have in fact created a fear psycho across the entire state, which in turn has warranted the need for such legislation.
Referring to the cases of a Hindu woman or a man wishing to marry a Muslim man or woman, the affidavit stated: “Even though Hindu woman wishes not to give up her faith, she will have to give up her faith in order to enter into a valid marriage and accept Islam as her faith. This will amount to forceful conversion. The position remains the same if a Hindu boy wants to marry a Muslim girl. Hindu boy will have to accept Islam.”
Calling this exercise a loss of dignity, the affidavit claimed that the conversion in such cases is not exercised as a choice but on account of compulsion due to personal law intervening.
Against this backdrop, the affidavit submitted that the Act just gives the relatives the power to file an FIR in cases of forceful conversion and that the Act goes on to ensure that every individual is granted an equal moral membership in the society.
Lastly, the government in its reply also stressed that the petitioners are motivated by social media propagandas of ‘ghar wapasi’ and have not focussed on the legal issues. Therefore, they are misusing the process of law by filing the instant PIL and using the same as a tool for publicity.
Following a direction of the high court, the affidavit of the UP government was filed in response to the bunch of public interest litigations (PILs) challenging the said Act.
Significantly, while stressing that the community interest will always prevail over the individual interest, the UP government has added that the law in challenge seeks to protect public interest and maintain public order, and safeguards the interest of the community.
“When there is fear psychosis in the community at large and the community itself is endangered and succumbs to the pressure resulting in forceful conversion, it becomes necessary that the interest of the community as a whole requires protection and no microanalysis of individual interest can be looked into,” the affidavit further added before the court.
It has been asserted in the affidavit that the law is identical in nature to the laws that are already in existence at least in eight states of the country. Besides Uttar Pradesh, such a law is prevalent in neighbouring countries like Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Pakistan also.
Further, the affidavit stated that there is ample data in public record which shows that forcible conversions have in fact created a fear psycho across the entire state, which in turn has warranted the need for such legislation.
Referring to the cases of a Hindu woman or a man wishing to marry a Muslim man or woman, the affidavit stated: “Even though Hindu woman wishes not to give up her faith, she will have to give up her faith in order to enter into a valid marriage and accept Islam as her faith. This will amount to forceful conversion. The position remains the same if a Hindu boy wants to marry a Muslim girl. Hindu boy will have to accept Islam.”
Calling this exercise a loss of dignity, the affidavit claimed that the conversion in such cases is not exercised as a choice but on account of compulsion due to personal law intervening.
Against this backdrop, the affidavit submitted that the Act just gives the relatives the power to file an FIR in cases of forceful conversion and that the Act goes on to ensure that every individual is granted an equal moral membership in the society.
Lastly, the government in its reply also stressed that the petitioners are motivated by social media propagandas of ‘ghar wapasi’ and have not focussed on the legal issues. Therefore, they are misusing the process of law by filing the instant PIL and using the same as a tool for publicity.
