Guarantee alimony or maintenance for women forced to marry for the purpose of religious conversion and a provision to declare such marriages null and void are some of the clauses that will be part Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2020, which will be discussed in a special Cabinet session on Saturday, before being presented at the next three-day winter session that will begin on December 28.
Once approved by the Assembly, the new law will replace the current MP Dharma Swatantrya Adhiniyam law, 1968. The BJP government argues that the 1968 law is outdated and is being reworked in light of the experience of the last 50 years in the state regarding forced conversions, with improved definitions and higher penalties to prohibit such crimes, in particular forced religious conversions under the guise of marriage.
According to the new bill, forced conversions would carry a minimum prison sentence of five years, up to life imprisonment, in case the person converted is a minor or belongs to a recognized caste or tribe, and three years in case otherwise, with a minimum penalty of Rs 50,000.
However, unlike the Ordinance banning illegal religious conversion in Uttar PradeshAccording to the law of the Public Ministry, a person who converts of his own free will does not have to inform the district judge. However, in case a person approaches a priest for such a conversion, the priest in question must inform the district administration.
The Minister of Medical Education, Vishwas Sarang, had demanded that frequent offenders in such cases receive a higher penalty, but officials said this could be a matter for the courts.
Under the MP’s new bill, a family court in the state will be empowered to declare null and void marriages made for the purpose of religious conversion. Alimony in such cases would be awarded according to Section 125 of the CrPC. In his interactions with the media, Interior Minister Narottam Mishra had said that they were also exploring the possibility of seizing the property of the accused.
The draft was scheduled to be discussed at a cabinet meeting on December 22, but was postponed until a special session on December 26 after the chief minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, said that some suggestions were expected.
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