The UP Assembly on Tuesday passed the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Bill 2024, often called the anti- ‘love jihad’ law. This bill that was tabled in the House on Monday escalates the penalties relating to unlawful religious conversion in a big way. The bill raises the penalty that can be imposed in such cases to life, and these amendments are significant improvements over the provisions.
According to the new amendments, any person who in any way threatens, attacks or plans to kidnap someone with the intention to convert them, or any person who is involved in trafficking women or minors with the purpose of conversion, will have to face severe lawful ramifications. The bill defines these offences as serious ones, with possible punishments ranging from 20 years of imprisonment to life imprisonment. This marks a step up from the previous maximum of having the individual serve a 10-year sentence and a fine of Rs 50,000.
UP Assembly on Complaints
They have also extended the grounds on which one can make a complaint. Earlier, an FIR could only be filed by the victim or close relatives as they were considered the victim’s legal heirs. The new provision provides that any person may record any such offences in writing, hence expanding the arm of the law in these categories of cases. In addition, all related cases have to be instituted in a session court, and any bail application must be admitted only after a hearing of the prosecutor. As in the case of most of the aforesaid crimes, the bill provides that the crimes in question are non-bail-eligible offences.
The first notice for this law was passed in November 2020, later leading to the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act-2021 after passing both houses of the Uttar Pradesh legislature.
Opposition Criticizes
As always, the bill has been passed and received some sort of disapproval from the side of the Opposition. Thus, the Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has stated that the Uttar Pradesh government is using the bill as an element of communal politics, turning away from the other topics. To newsmen, Yadav retorted, “What else do they have? They are not doing anything new.”
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