The Congress-led government in Karnataka has made the decision to repeal the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022, which was introduced by the former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government.
The law aimed to prohibit unlawful conversions between religions through misrepresentation, force, coercion, allurement, or fraudulent means.
The Karnataka legislative assembly passed the contentious Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021 in December 2021.
At the time, the Indian National Congress (INC) party, which was part of the opposition, and the Janata Dal (Secular) opposed the Bill. It later became an Act in September 2022.
Following their victory in the recent legislative assembly elections, the INC formed the State government in Karnataka. As part of their agenda, they have decided to repeal the anti-conversion law.
Section 3 of the Bill criminalized religious conversion through misrepresentation, force, fraud, coercion, allurement, or by promising marriage. Violation of this section could result in imprisonment for a term of three to five years, along with a fine of ₹25,000.
In cases where the conversion involved a minor, a person of unsound mind, a woman, or an individual belonging to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, the imprisonment term could be extended to ten years, in addition to the same fine.
The Bill also mandated that individuals intending to convert to another religion must declare their intention at least thirty days in advance to the District Magistrate or Additional District Magistrate.
The burden of proof to demonstrate that a religious conversion was not carried out using prohibited means or through marriage lies with the person responsible for the conversion and any abettor aiding or abetting such conversion.
