Abstract

Indian constitution stands on the base of secularism. Indian political circuit, in recent times has seen the dishonest forms of politico-religious swamp. With many states of the Indian Union making laws regulating religious conversions, though the anti-conversion laws is not a new phenomenon and has become more politicized and negatively publicized after strings of new state legislations they were very much in existence even before the Independence. The Anti-Conversion are laws which is introduced mainly by state to prohibit the conversion by force, allurement, gratuity, and other method by which one man repudiate his religion and convert into another religion. All the provisions of anti-conversion laws of numerous states and their implications on Constitution have been examined and significant cases where the constitutional validity of some of these laws has been challenged are discussed. In spite of the criticism of India’s anti-conversion laws, many human rights bodies have recognized that these laws have follow in several arrests and no convictions. The conversion is seen as a major mean to expand population. Anti-conversion laws are seen as an alternative measure to the problem of conversion. The statistical analysis is supplemented with a case study of some states where the law is implemented. A detailed study of the legislations showcases that the language used is often extraordinarily broad and vague, posing some serious challenges to religious freedom as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution and embodied in international human rights instruments.

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