Constitutionality of Anti-Conversion Laws in India: An Overview

Anti-conversion laws are legal provisions that aim to prevent or regulate the conversion of one religion to another. These laws have been enacted by several states in India, including the states of Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Karnataka. with varying degrees of scope and severity. The paper examines the history of the anti-conversion law and its evolution from before independence until the present year. The paper also discusses the rationale and impact of these laws, which are examined in this paper. The paper also explains important provisions of the anti-conversion laws with special reference to THE KARNATAKA PROTECTION OF RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION ACT, 2022. The paper also talks about the different views people have on these laws. Some section of people argue that these laws violate their constitutional right to freedom of religion enshrined in Article 25 and pose a threat to the secular and pluralistic fabric of India. However, some argue that these laws are essential to safeguard the citizen's religious identity and protect people from forceful conversions. The paper examines the arguments made by both sides. The paper also analyses the judicial pronouncements on the issue of religious conversion by the Supreme Court in different cases. The paper also analyses the important international conventions about religious freedom and the convention to which India has been a signatory. The paper also explains the signatory. The paper also explains the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom report on Anti-conversion laws in India. The paper is concluded by giving suggestions from the author’s point of view.