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MADHYA

PRADESH ACT

No. ⁵^oF²⁰²¹

THE MADHYA

PREDESH FREEDOM^OFRELIGION

ACT, ²⁰²¹

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sections :

L. Short title

extent and commencement.

2. Definitions.

3. Prohibition of

unlawful

conversion

from one

religion ^toother

religion.

Complaint

against

conversion of religion.

3. Punishment

for contravention of provisions of Section^3.

Marriages performed

with^theintent^toconvert^a

person shall^benull and void.

7. Jurisdiction of ^theCourt.

8. Inheritance

Right.

Right ^toMaintenance.

10. Declaration before conversion of religion. LL. Punishment

for violation of provisions of Act by ^aninstitution

organization.

12. Burden of proof.

13. Offence

cognizable.

non-bailable

and triable by Court of

Session.

14.

Investigation.

15. Power to remove difficulties.

16. Power

to make

rules. {7.

Repeal ^and

saving of Madhya

Pradesh Act No. ²⁷of [968.

18.

Repeal

and

saving of Madhya

Pradesh Ordinance

No. ^|

of 2021.

358

(6) usa,

feats ²⁷Ard²⁰²¹y Short

title, extent ^and commencement. Definitions.

MADHYA

PRADESH^ACT

No. 5 oF²⁰²¹

THE

MADHYA

PRADESH FREEDOM ^OFRELIGION

ACT, ²⁰²¹

[Received ^theassent^of^theGovernor ^on^the^26th

March,

2021;

assent first published ⁱⁿ^the

"Madhya

Pradesh Gazette

(Extra-ordinary)'',

dated^the^27th

March, 2021.] An Act to

provide

freedom^ofreligion

prohibiting

conversion^from^one

religion ^toanother by misrepresentation, allurement, ^useof threat or force,

undue

influence,

coercion,

marriage or any fraudulent

means^andfor ^thematters

connected therewith or incidental

thereto. Be it enacted

by ^the

Madhya

Pradesh

Legislature ⁱⁿ^the

seventy-second

years of ^the

Republic of India, ^asfollows :-

(1) This Act may

be called

the

Madhya

Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act,

2021.

(2) ^Itshall

extend^to^thewhole of^theState of Madhya

Pradesh.

(3) ^Itshall^come ^intoforce ^on^such ^date^as^theState Government^may,^bynotification ⁱⁿ the Official

Gazette, appoint,

(1)

In this

Act,

unless^thecontext otherwise

requires,-

(a) "allurement'

means ^andincludes ^an^actof offering of^anytemptation ⁱⁿ^the^form of any gift ^or

gratification ^ormaterial benefit,

eitherⁱⁿ^cash ^or^kind^or employment.

education ⁱⁿschool ^run ^by^anyreligious

body,

better

lifestyle, divine pleasure ^or^the

promise of^itthereof^or

otherwise;

(b) "coercion"

means

compelling ^anindividual^to^act

against ^hiswill^by^any

means whatsoever

including psychological

pressure ^or

physical

force causing

bodily injury ^orthreat thereof; (c)

"conversion"

means

renouncing ^one

religion ^and

adopting

another ^but^thereturn of any person already converted ^to^the^fold^of ^hisparental religion

shall ^not be deemed conversion:

Explanation.-the

parental religion^of^the

person converted

shall^mean ^the

religion ^to which ^hisfather

belonged ^at^the^timeof birth of^suchperson. (d)

"force"? includes ^a^showof force^or ^athreat of injury of^any^kind^to^theperson converted ^or

sought ^to^beconverted ^or^to^hisparents. siblings. ^or

any

other person related by marriage, adoption, guardianship ^or

custodianship ^ortheir property including ^athreat of divine displeasure ^orsocial

ex-communication;

(e) "fraudulent"

includes misrepresentation of^any^kind^or ^anyother fraudulent contrivance;

(f)

"Government"

means ^theGovernment^ofMadhya

Pradesh;

(g) "minor" means ^a

person under

eighteen

years of^age:

(h)

"religious

priest"

means^andincludes^a

person professing ^anyreligion ^and^who performs rituals

including purification

Sanskar^orconversion ceremony of^any religion ^and ^bywhatever ^name^iscalled ^such^as

Pujari Pandit,

Qazi,

Mulla. Maulvi ^and

Father; (i)

"undue influence"

means ^theunconscientious ^use ^by^oneperson^of^his

power ^or influence ^overanother ⁱⁿorder^to

persuade ^theother^to^act ⁱⁿaccordance ^with the will of the

person exercising

such influence.

qeagest

Usga,

feath ²⁷Ard ²⁰²¹³⁵⁸

(7)

(2) ^Thewords ^and

expressions ^used ⁱⁿ^this^Act^but^notdefined

herein^butdefinedⁱⁿ the Code of Criminal Procedure,

1973

(2 of 1974) ^andthe Indian Penal

Code,

1860

(45 of

1860)

shall^have ^the^same

meaning ^as

assigned ^to^them

respectively

unless^thecontext otherwise provides.

(1)

No person shall,-

(a) convert ^or

attempt ^to

convert,

either

direcly ^or

otherwise,^any

other person ^by use of misrepresentation,

allurement,

use of

threat or

force,

undue

infuluence, coercion ^or

marriage ^orby any

other fraudulent means; (b)

(2)

Any

conversion ⁱⁿcontravention of provision of ^thissection shall ^bedeemed ^null and void.

abet or

conspire

such conversion.

4 . No Police officer

shall

inquire ^or

investigate except upon ^awritten

complaint of^a person converted ⁱⁿcontravention of Section³above^or^his

parents^or

siblings ^orwith^the leave of^thecourt by any other person ^who ^isrelated by blood, marriage ^or

adoption, guardianship ^or

custodianship, ^as ^may ^be

applicable.

5. Whoever

contravence

the

provisions of Section ³shall^be

punished

with

imprisonment for ^a

term, which shall ^notbe less^thanone

year ^butwhich may extend^tofive years ^and shall ^also^beliable^tofine which shall ^not^be^less^than

Rupees Twenty Five Thousand:

Provided ^thatwhoever contravenes ^the

provisions of Section ³ⁱⁿ

respect of^aminor, ^a woman or ^a

person belonging ^to^theScheduled

Castes ^orScheduled Tribes shall ^be

punished with

imprisonment ^for^a^termwhich shall ^not^be^less^than^two

years ^butwhich may extend^to ten

years

and shall also be liable

to fine

which shall

not be less

than

Rupees Fifty

Thousand:

Provided

further^thatwhosoever

intends ^to

marry ^a

person of any religion

other ^than^the religion professed ^by^him^andconceals ^his

religion ⁱⁿ^such ^amanner^that^theother person whom he intends^to

marry. believes ^that^his

religion ^is

truly ^the^one

professed

by^himshall^be punished with imprisonment ^for^aterm, which shall ^not^be^less^thanthree

years ^butwhich may extend ^to^ten

years ^andshall

also^beliable^to^finewhich shall ^not^be^less ^than

Rupees Fifty

Thousand:

Provided

further ^thatwhosoever

contravenes ^the

provisions of Section³ⁱⁿ

respect of^mass conversion shall ^be

punished with imprisonment ^for ^a

term, which

shall^not^be^less ^thenFive years ^butwhich^mayextend ^to^ten

years ^andshall^also ^beliable^to^finewhich shall ^not^be less ^than

Rupees

One Lakh:

Provided ^also ^thatⁱⁿ^the^caseof ^a

second ^or

subsequent offence

mentioned ⁱⁿ^thissection is committed,

the term of

the

imprisonment

shall

not^beless than five years

but

may extend to ^ten

years

and also with

fine. Explanation -Mass

conversion

means^aconversion

wherein^more ^than ^twopersons ^are converted ^at^the^sametime.

Any

marriage performed ⁱⁿcontravention of Section³shall ^bedeemed

null and viod.

Every petition for

declaring ^a

marriage

null and void

under Section ⁶shall^be presented by any person mentioned ⁱⁿSection ⁴before ^the

family

court or

where ^a

family court is not

established, ^thecourt

having jurisdiction of^a

family

court within^thelocal limits wherein,-

(a) ^the

marriage ^wassolemnized; ^or Prohibition ^of

unlawful

conversions ^from

one

religion

to other

religion. Complaint against conversion ^of religion. Punishment ^for contravention ^of provisions ^of Section 3. Marriage performed with ^theintent ^to convert a

person shalt ^benull ^and void.

Jurisdiction ^of ^the Court.

358

(8)

Aeagen

wuss, feat ²⁷Hrd²⁰²¹ Inheritance

right Right ^to Maintenance. Declaration before conversion of

religion. Punishment ^for violation ^of provisions of Act by ^aninstitution or

organization. Burden of Proof Offence ^to ^be cognizable, ^non- bailable ^and triable by Court of Session.

Investigation

(b) ^the

respondent, ^at^the^timeof ^the

persentation of ^the

petition,

resides; ^or (c)

either parties ^to^the

marriage ^lastresided together; ^or (d)

where^the

petitioner ^is

residing ^on^the^dateof presentation of ^the

petition.

(1) Notwithstanding

the

provisions of Section

6 or the decision of

the

competent court under Section ⁷hereinabove, any child ^born^outof marriage performed ⁱⁿcontravention of

Section >

3 shall be deemed

legitimate.

(2) Notwithstanding ^the

provision of Section⁶hereinabove ^thesuccession ^to^the

property by ^suchchild shall ^be

regulated according ^to^thelaw

governing

inheritance of^thefather.

(3) Nothing

contained ⁱⁿ

sub-section

(2)

shall^beconstrued ^as

conferring ^upon^anychild of ^a

marriage which^is^null ^and^void

under Section ⁶^andwhich^isannulled by competent court under section 7,

any right ⁱⁿ^or^to^the

property of any person.

other ^thanhis father.

Notwithstanding

any

provision

contained ⁱⁿ

any other law for^thetime

being ⁱⁿforce such woman whose marriage ^isdeclared

null^andvoid

under section ⁷^and^herchildren ^bornof such

marriage shall^beentitled ^tomaintenance^as

provided ⁱⁿ

Chapter [X of^theCriminal

Procedure Code. ¹⁹⁷³

(2 of 1974).

10.

(1)

Any person who

desires

to convert shall

submit ^adeclaration

to that effect 60

days prior ^to^suchconversion, ⁱⁿ

prescribed Form^to^theDistrict magistrare

stating ^that ^hedesires ^to convert ^on^hisown ^freewill^andwithout any force. coercion,

undue influence ^orallurement.

(2) any religious priest

and/or

any person^whointends ^to

organize

conversion

shall ^give

days prior notice ^to^theDistrict Magistrate of^thedistrict

where^suchconversion ^is

proposed to be

organized

in such Form

as may^be

prescribed.

(3) The

District Magistrate. ^on

receiving ^theinformation

under sub-sections ({) ^and ⁽²⁾ shall

give

acknowledgement of^such

prior notice ⁱⁿ ^suchmanner ^as^may^be

prescribed.

(4)

Whoever

contravenes ^the

provisions of sub-section (2)

shall ^be

punished^with imprisoment ^for^a^termwhich shall ^not^be^less^thanthree years.^but ^mayextend^tofive yeurs and shall also^befiable ^tofine which

shall^not ^beless^than

Rupees Fifty

Thousand.

(5) ^Nocourt

shall ^take

cognizance of ^theoffence committed

under^thissection without prior sanction of^theconcerned District Magistrate.

11.

(lL) Where any institution

organization violates any

provision of

this Act.

the

person incharge of ^theaffairs of ^the^suchinstitution ^or

organization. ^as^the^case ^may^be.shall ^beliable for

punishment

provided

under Section ⁵of

this Act.

(2) The registration of

institution ^or

organization

found

guilty of committing ^anyoffence under this Act may ^berescinded by ^the

Competent Authority.

12. The burden of proof

as to whether^aconversion

was not effected through misrepresentation, allurement, ^useof force.

threat of force,

undue influence.

coercion^or^bymarriage or

any other fraudulent

means done

for

the

purpose of carrying

out conversion

lies

on the accused.

13.

(1) Notwithstanding anything

contrary contained

in the Code of

Criminal

Procedure,

1973.

every offecne

committed

under this Act shall^be

cognizable.

non-bailable ^andtriable by ^the Court of

Session.

(2) While trying ^anoffence

under^this^Act.^aSession Court^may^also^try ^anoffence,

other than the offence

under this

Act,

with which

the accused may. under^theCode of

Criminal Procedure.

1973.^be

charged ^at^the^sametrial.

14. No Police Officer

below

the rank of Sub-inspector of Police

shall

investigate

any offeene registered

under^thisAct.

Hees usta,

fesse ²⁷^APA²⁰²¹³⁵⁸ ⁽⁹⁾

15.

(1) If any difficulty

arises

giving

effect to the

provisions of

this

Act,

the

Power

remove Government may, by order

published ⁱⁿ^theOfficial Gazette, ^make^such

provisions, ^not difficulties. inconsistent ^with^the

provisions of^this

Act, ^as

appear ^to

it, ^to^be

necessary ^or

expedient ^for removing ^the

difficulty; Provided ^that^no^suchorder shall ^be^madeafter^the

expiry of ^a

period of^twoyears ^from the date of commencement of this Act.

(2) Every

order^madeunder^thissection

shall, ^as^soon^as ^may ^beafter^it^is

made, ^be laid before State

Legislature.

16.

(1)

The Government may,

by notification

in the Official Gazette,

make rules

or Power ^tomake regulations ^for

carrying ^out ^the

provisions of^thisAct.

(2)

Any

notification

issued

under sub-section

(1)

shall ^be

published ⁱⁿ^the

Official Gazette, ^andshall^takeeffect thereupon.

17.

(1)

The Madhya

Pradesh Dharma

Swatantrya Adhiniyam,

1968

(No.

27 of 1968) and rules made thereunder^are

hereby repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding ^such

repeal, ^butwithout

prejudice ^to^the

application^ofSection ¹⁰ of ^the

Madhya

Pradesh General Clauses ^Act, ¹⁹⁵⁷

(3^of1958),

anything ^done^orany action taken or purported ^tohave^beendone

or taken

under orⁱⁿ

pursuance of ^theAct^so

repealed, shall ⁱⁿ^sofar^as^it^is^notinconsistent

with^the

provisions of^this

Act, ^bedeemed^to^have^been done or

taken

under^orⁱⁿ

pursuance of^the

corresponding provisions of^thisAct.

1 8.

(1)

The Madhya

Pradesh Freedom of

Religion

Ordinance, 2020 (No. ^|of 2021)

is hereby repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding ^the

repeal of^the^said

Ordinance,

anything ^done^or ^anyaction taken under the said Ordinance

shall ^bedeemed ^tohave^beendone or taken

under^the

corresponding provisions of^thisAct. rules.

Repeal ^and

saving

of Madhya

Pradesh Act No. ²⁷^of1968. Repeal ^and

saving of Madhya

Pradesh Ordinance ^No.¹^of

2021.

den Ce EMT her AROS, We A Aika

den

WaI-2021