Constitution Doesn't Back Forced Conversion

The Court Said The Presumption That A Religion Is Superior Than Another Is Antithetical To The Idea Of Secularism

- K Sandeep Kumar

PRAYAGRAJ: The presumption that one religion is superior than another is antithetical to the idea of secularism and the State must maintain a principled equidistance from all religions, the Allahabad high court has observed while refusing to dismiss a case against four people accused of forceful conversion to Christianity.

The court, in an order dated May 7 and made public on Saturday, said that while the Constitution gives every citizen the right to freely follow and spread their religion, it does not support forced or fraudulent conversions. "The presumption that one religion is inherently superior to other clearly presupposes the moral and spiritual superiority of one religion over another. Such notion is fundamentally antithetical to the idea of secularism. Indian secularism is rooted in the principle of equal respect for all religions," the bench of justice Vinod Diwakar said.