Central Government Told SC, Religious Freedom Does Not Include The Right To Convert Others

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that forced conversions are a ‘serious menace’ and a ‘national issue’ and the central government in its affidavit has mentioned the relevant steps taken by some states. The affidavit states that public order is a state subject and various states (Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka and Haryana) have passed laws to control forced conversions. The petition, filed through advocate Ashwani Kumar Dubey, has sought a direction to the Law Commission to prepare a report as well as prepare a bill to control forced conversions.