Supreme Court rejects plea to curb black magic, forced religious conversions

Religious conversion by 'carrot and stick' and by 'hook or crook' not only offends Articles 14, 21, 25, but is also against the principles of secularism, argued the petitioner

The Supreme Court on Friday said persons above 18 years of age are free to choose their religion as it refused to entertain a . A bench of Justices R.F. Nariman, B.R. Gavai and Hrishikesh Roy told senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayana, appearing for petitioner advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, “What kind of writ petition is this under Article 32. We will impose a heavy cost on you. You argue on your own risk”. The plea filed by Upadhyay has also sought directions to ascertain the feasibility of appointing a committee to enact a Conversion of Religion Act to check the “abuse of religion”. “, 21, 25, but is also against the principles of secularism, which is an integral part of the basic structure of the Constitution. “Petitioner states with dismay that the Centre and States have failed to control the menace of black magic, superstition and deceitful religious conversion, though it is their duty under Article 51A,” said the plea filed through advocate Ashwani Kumar Dubey.