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The contentious anti conversion bill was passed by the Karnataka Assembly in the session via voice vote among parliamentarians. The principal opposition was met by Congress and JDS to the passing of the bill however they could not sustain the voice vote.
The Bill named as Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021 seeks to impose restrictions on religious conversions and inter faith marriages. It seeks to punish those conversions which do not fall under the procedure under the law namely unlawful conversions. The Bill defines unlawful conversion as any kind of conversion through allurement to include offers of any temptation in form of gift, gratification, easy money or material benefit either in cash or kind employment, free education in school run by religious body, or promise to marry; or better lifestyle, divine displeasure or otherwise. It also prohibits unlawful conversion from one religion to another religion by misrepresentation, force undue influence, coercion, allurement or another fraudulent means or marriage. Any kind of conversion rather to ones previous religion by such way so would not be unlawful.
The burden of proof to prove that it was lawful conversion goes to the one who has caused the conversion
Also restraining to the choice of people to marry, any kind of conversion before or after marriage of either spouse , if proved that the marriage was done for the sole purpose of conversion , would be void.
The statement of objects and reason refers to the judgement in the case of Rev Stanislaus vs State of Madhya Pradesh and Orissa (1977) 1 SCC 677 of the Supreme Court in which it is held that the Right to propagate under Article 25 does not include the right to convert another person.
The legislation states that "Whoever, contravenes the provisions of section 3 shall, without prejudice to any civil liability, be punished with imprisonment for a term, which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine which shall not be less than Rupees twenty-five thousand."Under the proposed legislation any aggrieved person, his parents, brother, sister or any other person who is related to him by blood, marriage or adoption may lodge a First Information Report of such conversion.In respect of mass conversion, the offender shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine which shall not be less than Rupees one lakh.
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