SC seeks states' replies on anti-conversion law pleas

ANTI-CONVERSION LAWS ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF INDIA'S CITIZENS, THE PETITIONERS SAID

- Utkarsh Anand

The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought responses from several states on applications seeking suspension of their anti-conversion laws, with petitioners arguing that the statutes are arbitrary and infringe the fundamental rights of individuals to convert and to exercise free will.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the validity of "freedom of religion" laws enacted by Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand and Karnataka. The court gave the states four weeks to respond and posted the matter for further hearing after six weeks.