Allahabad High Court Raises Concerns Over Religious Conversions During Gatherings
Last Updated on July 3, 2024 by News Desk
The Allahabad High Court has raised significant concerns about the increasing number of religious conversions occurring during gatherings. Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal expressed these concerns while dismissing the bail plea of Kailash, who was accused of converting a group of Hindus from a village to Christianity.
Article 25 of the Indian Constitution guarantees individuals the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate their religion, subject to public order, morality, and health. However, the High Court emphasized that propagation does not include converting others from one religion to another.
In this case, Kailash, a resident of Maudaha in Hamirpur district, allegedly converted a group of villagers to Christianity during an event in Delhi. The FIR, filed by Ramkali Prajapati, stated that Kailash took his mentally ill brother to Delhi for treatment but did not return as promised. When Kailash eventually returned, he took villagers to an event where they were allegedly converted to Christianity, with some offered money for their conversion.
The court highlighted that such conversions could potentially alter the religious demographics of the country, leading to a situation where the majority population might become a minority. Justice Agarwal stressed that gatherings facilitating such conversions must be stopped immediately as they violate the right to religious freedom enshrined in Article 25.
Given the seriousness of the allegations, the court refused to grant bail to Kailash. It underscored the need for immediate action to prevent religious conversions during gatherings, asserting that such activities undermine the constitutional right to religious freedom. The court’s decision reflects a broader concern about the impact of religious conversions on societal harmony and demographic balance in India.
Written by — Athi Venkatesh AVD
