The Madhya Pradesh cabinet on December 26, 2020 approved the Dharma Swatantrya (Religious Freedom) Bill 2020 .
Salient Features of the Bill
- Section 3 of the bill says that anyone found guilty of abetment to religious conversion shall face imprisonment of one to five years and a fine of not less than Rs 25,000.
- Attempt to hide one’s religion will be punishable by imprisonment of three to 10 years and a fine of at least Rs 50,000.
- If a minor or a woman from Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste categories is forced into conversion, the perpetrator will be imprisoned for two to 10 years and fined up to Rs 50,000.
- Provision for the imprisonment of five to 10 years and fine of at least Rs 100,000 is being made for attempting mass religious conversion (of two or more persons).
- Blood relatives, including parents of victims of such religious conversion, can file complaints under the proposed Act.
(Source: HT)
