Gujarat Govt Withdraws The Controversial Anti-conversion Bill

NEW DELHI, MAR. 12, 2008, 13.00 Hrs (CBCI News):s

After the Governor of Gujarat Nawal Kishore Sharma refused to sign the draconian Anti-conversion Bill, the Gujarat government on Monday withdrew a the Bill.

The Governor had observed that the proposed amendment would be in violation of Article 25 of the Constitution of India as it would impair the freedom of conscience.

The proposed Bill prohibited conversion from one religion to another, making it mandatory for any religious sect to seek permission from the District Collectors, but permitted conversions from one denomination to another in the same religion only.

The "Gujarat Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill" was passed in 2006 by the Assembly despite objections from the Opposition and human rights activists.

The Bill sought to amend the Freedom of the Religion Act, 2003, which made any act of conversion by force or allurement punishable and made it mandatory for any religious sect to seek permission from the District Collectors concerned for conversions.

However, the Anti-conversion Bill 2003 is in force at present. It denies the fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution of India and the universal Human Right to freely choose one's faith, without interference from the State.