UP: In view of the increasing cases of love jihad, the Yogi government has taken a significant step. Such a crime will now be punished with life imprisonment. The bill related to this decision is set to be introduced in the assembly on July 30.
The Yogi government of Uttar Pradesh has decided to enact a law regarding love jihad, and a bill has been introduced in the assembly today. According to this bill, a person committing a crime such as jihad can be sentenced to life imprisonment. Additionally, preparations are being made to bring funding for illegal religious conversion under the purview of this crime. It is worth noting that the Yogi government first enacted a law against love jihad in 2020, and the new bill aims to make it stricter.
Law Against Love Jihad in 2020
The UP government introduced the initial law in 2020 regarding love jihad. This law prescribed a punishment ranging from one to ten years for such offenses and included a fine of up to Rs 50,000. Under this law, illegal or forced religious conversions were considered non-bailable. If a person wished to convert their religion voluntarily, they had to inform the magistrate two months in advance. According to the law, religious conversion undertaken solely for marriage was deemed invalid.
Recently, numerous cases of love jihad have emerged, prompting the Yogi government to issue instructions for stricter measures.
Punishment for Forced Religious Conversion
The law approved by the Yogi Cabinet on November 24, 2020, prescribed imprisonment of one to five years and a fine of Rs 15,000 for forced or fraudulent religious conversions.
Changes in the New Law
- In the new law, the guilty can be punished with 20 years of imprisonment or life imprisonment.
- Any person can now file an FIR in cases of conversion; previously, this right was reserved for the girl’s family only.
- No court below the sessions court will hear cases of love jihad.
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