The Supreme Court has taken notice of a petition challenging the constitutional validity of anti-conversion laws in several states. The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) filed the petition against the Freedom of Religion Acts in states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and others. The Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant-led Bench highlighted the constitutional significance of the issue and decided that a three-judge Bench would hear the case.
The petition argues that these laws violate fundamental rights guaranteed under various articles of the Constitution. It seeks a declaration that the statutes are unconstitutional. The plea also requests the court to prevent state police authorities from enforcing these laws coercively. The petition contends that the laws presume religious conversions involving adults to be coerced or fraudulent, infringing on personal decisions of conscience.
The plea further criticizes the laws for vague definitions of terms like “conversion” and “allurement,” granting excessive discretion to authorities. It raises concerns about the laws allowing unrelated third parties to file complaints, leading to arrests and social stigma. The petition also points out that certain provisions undermine core principles of criminal jurisprudence and perpetuate gender stereotypes.
