Bombay, Oct. 23: The Bombay High Court has observed that religious conversion solely for the purpose of marriage cannot be accepted, while reaffirming an individual’s freedom to change religion.
The court made the observations while hearing a petition challenging the constitutional validity of Maharashtra’s recently enacted anti-religious conversion law.
The petition was filed by a 70-year-old Islamic preacher from Thane. He argued that Article 25 of the Constitution guarantees the freedom to profess and propagate religion, and alleged that the state law interfered with this fundamental right.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh C. Tripathi and Justice Advait Seth heard the matter.
Bombay High Court Hears Challenge to Anti-Conversion Law
The bench said the law was intended to protect the secular nature of society and address concerns about forced religious conversions.
The judges also referred to cases involving people changing their religion shortly before marriage, including a day or two before the wedding. They distinguished the freedom to change one’s religion from conversion undertaken solely for marriage.
However, the court declined to entertain the petition in its existing form, observing that it lacked specific factual arguments supporting the challenge.
The bench granted the petitioner the liberty to file a fresh petition with appropriate supporting facts.
Following the court’s observations, the petitioner agreed to withdraw the existing case and indicated that he would file a fresh petition.
Now you can get the latest stories from Indtoday on Telegram every day. Click the link to subscribe. Click to follow Indtoday’s Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram. For all the latest Hyderabad News updates and Follow us on GoogleNews
