Madhya Pradesh notifies law against religious conversion; What the new law says

Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2021, passed in the state Assembly, has come into force in the state. The Act passed in the state Legislative Assembly earlier this month, after seeking assent from the Governor Anandiben Patel has been promulgated and published in the Madhya Pradesh Gazette (Extraordinary) on March 27.

What's the content of The Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2021

♦Under the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, conversion from one religion to another for "fraudulent means" has been considered a punishable offence.

♦Marriage solemnised with the intention of converting a person's religion would be declared null and void.

♦The converted person or his/her parents or sibling brother or sister with the permission of the court can submit a petition.

♦In case any institution or organisation violates any of the provisions mentioned in it, the Act has provisions of punishment.

♦Investigation of a crime registered under this Act cannot be done by a police officer of lower rank than a police sub-inspector.

♦The Act also has a provision that a person who wants to convert to another religion, has to apply with the District Magistrate 60 days in advance.

♦The person who is converting to another religion has to tell that he/she wants to convert his/her religion by their own free will and not under any pressure or influence.

♦According to this Act, any child born out of wedlock in violation of the rules would be deemed valid.

♦The inheritance of such child in property will be according to law.

♦A child born from a void and null marriage declared according to the rules will have the right to the property of his/her father.

♦Despite the declaration of null and void marriage, the woman and the child born would be entitled to maintenance according to the Act.