PIL against religious conversion: Supreme Court asks petitioner's counsel to look into disparaging allegations against minority religions

The Supreme Court on Monday orally asked Senior Advocate Arvind Datar, appearing for the petitioner in the plea against religious conversion, to examine the comments made against certain minority religions in the plea [Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay v. Union of India]..A bench of Justices MR Shah and S Ravindra Bhat told Datar to take note of such comments. "What is Mr. Datar saying (about such comments) ? Since you are appearing please look at these comments and take note of it," Justice Bhat said.This was after Senior Counsel Dushyant Dave, appearing for certain minority religious bodies, brought to the notice of the Court the scurrilous allegations against certain religions in the plea filed by BJP leader and advocate Ashwini Upadhyay."Allegations that certain religions are perpetuating rape etc cannot be made. This sends a terrible signal to the minority community," Dave said.He requested the Court to allow his client to be impleaded as a party to the case. The Court, however, adjourned the matter to January 9, 2023 since Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was not present. .The plea has sought stringent steps to tackle forceful religious conversions. The public interest litigation (PIL) petition has claimed that fraudulent and deceitful religious conversion is rampant across the country, and that the Central government has failed to control its menace.During the hearing of the matter on December 5, the apex court had taken a dim view of religious conversion in the guise of charity, stating that the intention of persons offering such charity will have to be examined in such cases. The Court had also remarked that those in India have to act as per its culture and Constitution.The Central government in its affidavit has taken the stance that fundamental right to practice and propagate any religion under the Constitution does not include any fundamental right to convert people.The word 'propagate' used in Article 25 of the Constitution does not include within its ambit the right to convert, and the decision in Reverend Stainislaus makes clear that forced conversions impinge on a citizen's right to freedom of conscience, the Central government's affidavit said..[Read live coverage of hearing below]