Haryana notifies rules under anti-conversion law, DMs to invite objections before approval
The Hindu
According to the anti-conversion law, the burden of proof as to whether the conversion was not effected through misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion lies on the accused
The Haryana government has notified rules to implement its law against religious conversion through force, undue influence or allurement under which district magistrates will have to publish a public notice and invite objections, if any, to an intended conversion.
The State Assembly had passed the Haryana Prevention of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill in March this year. The anti-conversion law was notified a month later after the governor's assent.
The new rules, Haryana Prevention of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Rules, 2022, were notified on December 15 under the Act for implementation after the state cabinet recently approved them.
Similar bills were passed in the recent past in BJP-ruled states including Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
According to the notified rules, any person intending to convert to another religion shall, prior to such conversion, give a declaration in Form 'A' to the district magistrate of the district in which he is permanently residing.
"In case the person intended to be converted is a minor, both of the parents or surviving parent, as the case may be, shall give a declaration in Form 'B'.
"Any religious priest and/or any person who intends to organise conversion under the Act shall give prior notice in Form C to the district magistrate of the district where such conversion is proposed to be organised," the rules state.
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