Ajit Karn
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Describing conversion under duress, pressure or greed as a serious issue, the Supreme Court said on Monday that it should not be given a political colour. The court reprimanded Tamil Nadu for raising objection to the petition raising the issue of conversion as politically motivated and said that it is a serious issue. Don’t give it a political colour.
Attorney General requested to help
The court, while requesting Attorney General R Venkataramani to assist it in hearing the matter, said that in the petition, there has been talk of cheating, greed and pressure to convert. If this is true, what should be done to stop it? What are the corrective steps that can be taken in this regard?
Next hearing will be on February 7
The court adjourned the hearing of the case till February 7, giving time to Tamil Nadu and the central government to file replies. BJP leader and lawyer Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay has filed a PIL in the Supreme Court alleging forced conversions under duress, greed and pressure and demanded strict measures to be taken to stop it. On Monday, this petition was taken up for hearing before the bench of Justice MR Shah and CT Ravi Kumar.
“Petition is politically motivated”
Senior advocate P. Wilson, appearing for the Tamil Nadu government, said the court should leave the matter to the legislature. Questioning the petition, he said it was politically motivated. The petitioner is a BJP leader. No such conversion is happening in Tamil Nadu.
The bench expressed objection to Wilson’s statement
Taking objection to calling the petition politically motivated, the bench told Wilson that there could be some other reason behind your saying so. Do not turn court hearings into other things. You should not look at this matter from the point of view of targeting one state. The court said that it wants to hear the Attorney General in this matter.
“There should be no conversion under deception, greed and pressure”
On the arrival of the Attorney General, the bench requested him to assist in hearing the matter. Justice Shah said that everyone has the right to religious freedom. Everyone has the right to convert, but if such fraud, greed and pressure is happening, then what should be done to stop it? You help the court in this regard on the next hearing.
Court adamant on calling Tushar Mehta
Advocate Kanu Aggarwal, appearing for the central government, initially urged the court to postpone the hearing, but the court persisted in calling Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and hearing his side. When Tushar Mehta came, the bench told him that you were not there on the last hearing. Wasn’t even today. This is a serious matter. how are you taking it? Mehta said that he was trapped in another case. Senior advocate Arvind Dattar, appearing for Ashwani Upadhyay, said that there is no law regarding conversion. The matter should be referred to the Law Commission.
‘Court will consider this issue comprehensively’
The bench said that it is a matter for the government to consider. The court will consider this issue comprehensively. Advocate Sanjay Hegde said that if there is an issue of public interest, then it should be listed in the name of religious conversion. The name of the petitioner should be removed from it. The bench said- Yes, there is no harm in it. Tell me, even on the last hearing, the court termed it as a serious matter of cheating, greed and pressure, and called it a threat to national security.
