Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has given his assent to the anti-conversion bill.
Bangalore:
Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Tuesday gave his assent to the ordinance that gave effect to the Karnataka Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021, commonly known as the Anti-Conversion Bill.
The bill was passed in the assembly in December last year but was pending before the council where the ruling BJP is one short of majority. The Karnataka government on 12 May issued the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion ordinance.
A day after Bengaluru’s Archbishop Peter Machado along with a Christian delegation requested the governor to withdraw the ordinance and not give his assent.
As per the government note, the ordinance is to protect the right to freedom of religion and to prohibit illegal conversion from one religion to another by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, inducement or any fraudulent means.
“Whereas the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and the Karnataka Legislative Council are not in session and the Hon’ble Governor of Karnataka is satisfied that such circumstances exist which are necessary for him to take immediate action to give effect to this Ordinance.” read the notification.
The Ordinance states that any converted person, his parents, brother, sister or any other person who is related to him by blood, marriage or adoption or in any way related or co-worker, shall file a complaint of such conversion. can do.
Violators shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine of Rs 25,000. In relation to mass conversion, the punishment extends to imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine which may extend to one lakh rupees.
“The court shall also pay to the victim of the said conversion a reasonable compensation payable by the accused, which may extend to five lakh rupees and shall be in addition to the fine,” the ordinance said.
Further, whoever has previously been convicted of an offense under this Ordinance, again convicted of an offense punishable under this Ordinance, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than five years. and shall also be liable to fine of Rs. Two lakhs.
The offenses committed under the Ordinance are cognizable and non-bailable.
Whoever wishes to convert, shall give a declaration in Form-I at least thirty days in advance to the District Magistrate or Additional District Magistrate specially authorized by the District Magistrate of the district of his residence or place of birth within the State.
A convert who performs a conversion ceremony to convert any person of one religion to another, shall send to the District Magistrate or Additional District Magistrate, specially authorized by the District Magistrate, a notice of thirty days in Form-2 of such intended conversion. Advance notice should be given. The ordinance states that the district from where the proposed converter is located.
After receiving the information, the District Magistrate will put the information about the proposed change of religion on the notice board of the District Magistrate’s office and the Tehsildar’s office, seeking objection.
If any objection is received within 30 days, he will get the inquiry done through the officials of Revenue or Social Welfare Department regarding the actual intent, purpose and reason for the proposed change.
The Ordinance states, “If the District Magistrate comes to a conclusion on the basis of the said inquiry into the commission of an offense under this Ordinance, he shall direct the concerned police officers to initiate criminal proceedings for the contravention of the provisions of section 3. will say.”
Mr Machado on Monday alleged that some groups in Karnataka want to sideline minorities.
The Archbishop had said that an option would be to approach the court to stay the promulgation of the ordinance.
“If the ordinance is promulgated, we will definitely have to look at ways and means to find resources for ourselves from different sides and the legal route is also one of the things that we can adopt,” he told reporters on Monday.
The Congress Karnataka unit had opposed the bill, terming it “draconian” and “anti-constitutional”.
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