Anti-conversion amendment bill passed in UP assembly, law became more stringent, now life imprisonment, Rs 5 lakh fine

Yogi Adityanath in the UP Assembly.

Illegal conversion Of Religion ,Amendment, Bill , The amendment bill to make legal provisions against illegal religious conversion in Uttar Pradesh more stringent was passed by the assembly on Tuesday. In this amendment bill, the punishment period for crimes related to religious conversion has been increased. Along with this, a provision of life imprisonment and a fine of up to five lakh rupees has been made in this amendment bill. Provisions have been made more stringent to stop funding from abroad for religious conversion.

Made the law more stringent than before

In the amended Act, the law has been made more stringent than before in cases of fraudulent or forced conversion. In the agenda for Tuesday issued by the Principal Secretary of the UP Legislative Assembly, Pradeep Kumar Dubey, it has been proposed that this amended bill will be discussed in the House today to pass it. In the amended bill, a provision has been made for maximum life imprisonment for those guilty of converting a woman by deceit and marrying her illegally and harassing her. Earlier, there was a provision for a maximum punishment of 10 years. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna introduced the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Act, 2024 in the House on Monday, the first day in the House.

Now anyone can lodge a complaint

It has been proposed that if a person threatens, attacks, marries or promises to marry or plots for conversion, traffics a woman, minor or anyone with the intention of conversion, then his crime will be placed in the most serious category. In the amended Act, there is a provision of 20 years imprisonment or life imprisonment in such cases. When it became a law after being passed for the first time as a bill, a maximum punishment of 10 years and a fine of Rs 50,000 was provided under it. Under the amended provision, it has been arranged that now any person can register an FIR in conversion cases. Earlier, to give information or complaint about the case, the presence of the victim, his parents, siblings was necessary, but now the scope has been increased. Now anyone can give information about it to the police in writing.

All offences made non-bailable

Such cases will not be heard below the court of sessions and the bail plea will not be considered without giving an opportunity to the public prosecutor. Under the proposed draft, all the crimes in it have been made non-bailable. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had taken this initiative with the intention of curbing the alleged ‘love jihad’. An ordinance was issued for this in November 2020 and later the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act-2021 got legal recognition after the bill was passed by both the houses of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature. This amended bill will be discussed in the Assembly on Tuesday and then it can be passed.