Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat gave his assent to the ‘Gujarat Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2021’, which provides imprisonment of up to 10 years for fraudulent/forcible conversion by marriage.
- Gujarat Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2021 replaces the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, 2003.
- The Bill was one among 7 other Bills approved by the Gujarat Governor.
Gujarat Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2021
i.The amended bill proposes that, a forcible ‘conversion by marriage, or by getting a person married, or by aiding a person to get married’ shall invite imprisonment of 3-5 years and fine of up to INR 2 Lakh.
- If the victim is a minor, woman, Dalit or tribal, the offender will get a jail term of upto 4-7 years and a fine of upto INR 3 Lakh
- If an organisation violates the law, the person in charge shall be sentenced to minimum of 3 years and maximum of 10 years in jail.
ii.Before Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have passed laws banning ‘fraudulent’ conversions through marriage.
Other Bills
The other bills which received Governor’s assent were – The Gujarat Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and Provision for Protection of Tenants from Eviction from Premises in the Disturbed Areas (Amendment) Bill 2021, Gujarat Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and others.
Recent Related News:
October 13, 2020, President Ram Nath Kovind gave his Assent to the Gujarat Disturbed Area (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which prohibits transfer of Assets (Immovable Property) in disturbed areas and protects tenants from vacating the properties.
About Gujarat:
Nuclear Power Plant – Kakrapar, Surat.
Dams – SardarSarovar Dam (Narmada river), Ukai Dam (Tapti River), Kadana Dam (Mahi River), Karjan Reservoir (Karjan river).
