The Karnataka High Court on Friday directed the ruling BJP government to file objections with regard to the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the anti-conversion ordinance – Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Ordinance, 2022 move.
A division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J.M. Khazi issued notice to the state and has asked them to file objections within four weeks.
The petition filed by All Karnataka United Christian Forum for Human Rights and Evangelical Fellowship of India from New Delhi claimed that the ordinance exhibited intolerance and questioned its constitutional validity. The bill is an attack on democratic values which unites the country, it said.
The laws formulated under the Anti-Conversion Bill violate the right of choice of an individual, right of liberty and right to practice religion, it claimed.
In the petition, the Christian organisations stated the provisions of the ordinance violate Section 21 of the Indian constitution as it gives liberty to the state to violate the individual rights of citizens.
The BJP-led Karnataka government had tabled the proposed controversial Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021 on December 21, 2021. It is, however, yet to come before the Legislative Council.
After the state government brought the Anti-Conversion law into force by promulgating an ordinance, the Karnataka Congress announced to launch a Jan Andolan (people’s agitation) against it.
Stating that it will never allow the misuse of The Karnataka Protection of Rights to Freedom of Religion, the Congress said, “Our party will firmly stand with each individual belonging to the minority community, those who are threatened by the government. The party will launch ‘Jan Andolan’ against the proposed bill.”
Under the ordinance, any converted person, his parents, brother, sister or any other person who is related to him by blood, marriage or adoption or in any form associated or colleague may file a complaint of such conversion which violates the provisions. The offence is a non-bailable and cognizable offence.
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Rabia Shireen is a Staff Reporter at The Cognate.
