SC offers to find solution to ‘deceitful conversions

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Bench says it will examine ‘veiled intentions’ behind religious conversions through allurement by offering food, medicines, treatment; purpose of charity should not be conversion, it adds

KRISHNADAS RAJAGOPAL

 

NEW DELHI

The Supreme Court on Monday said acts of charity or good work to help a community or the poor should not cloak an intention to convert them religiously as payback.

A Bench, led by Justice M.R. Shah, said conversion on the basis of a voluntarily felt belief in the deity of a different faith was different from belief gained through allurement.

The court said it would examine such veiled intentions behind religious conversions through allurement by offering food, medicines, treatment and so on.

The court posted for final hearing on December 12 the “very serious issue” of forcible or deceitful conversions in the country. “We are here for a cause, we are here to find a solution,” it said.

“Everybody has a right to choose their faith but that does not mean luring somebody by giving something. If you believe that a particular community needs help, you help it. It is charity. But the purpose of charity should not be conversion. Every charity or good work is welcome, but what requires to be considered is the intention… Charity, help, everything is welcome, but within the framework. The intention should be very clear. That is what we will consider,” Justice Shah said. “When everybody is India, they have to act as per the culture of India,” he noted.

Justice C.T. Ravikumar, the Associate Judge on the Bench, said that “this is required for the harmony of India”.

When senior advocate Sanjay Hegde said people could choose to renounce their faith for various reasons, Justice Shah said “belief is a different thing… Belief by allurement, that is very dangerous”.

At this point, Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, for the Centre, said it was therefore that a “statutory mechanism” was in place. “A neutral authority will decide whether it is in lieu of grains, medicines, treatment offered that a person is converting or whether there is a religious or philosophical change of heart,” he said.

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