law commission report no,235- conversion, reconversion to another religion - mode of proof

8/19/2019 Law Commission Report No,235- Conversion, Reconversion to Another Religion - Mode of Proof

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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

LAWCOMMISSIONOFINDIA

Conversion/reconversion to another religion !o"e o# $roo#

Re$ort No% &'(

Dece!)er* &+,+

,

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2/22

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Justice P. V. Reddi Ne- Delhi.For!er 0"ge* S0$re!e Co0rt o# In"ia1 Tele2 &'+, 345(.R1Chair!an &''6 447(.O1

La- Co!!ission o# In"ia Fa82 &'73 &74( .R1

D% O% No% 5.'1/,6(/&+,+ 9 LC .LS1 Dece!)er &7* &+,+

Dear :on;)le Minister Dr% M% Veera$$a Moil


3/22

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E!ail2 $vBre""i


4/22

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Re: Conversion/reconversion to another religion - mode of proof

Introduction: Observations of erala !igh Court

,% A Division @ench o# >erala :igh Co0rt* in a !atri!onial case in

@ets< an" Sa"ana"an Vs Nil .Mat A$$eal No% ''3 o# &++31 -hile "ealing-ith a =oint a$$lication !ove" )< the $arties #or "issol0tion o# !arriage

0n"er Section ,'@ o# the :in"0 Marriage Act* ,3(( e8a!ine" the iss0e

-hether in the a)sence o# an< s$eci#ic $roce"0re $rescri)e" 0n"er $ristine

:in"0 la-* c0sto! an" stat0te governing conversion* -hat the a$$roach o#

the co0rt sho0l" )e an" -hether there is a nee" #or legislative intervention

so as to !ae the la- si!$le an" 0ser #rien"l


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a0thorit< in a register !aintaine" 0n"er the stat0te #or that $0r$ose a#ter la$se o#

a sti$0late" $erio" an" a#ter calling #or an" hearing o# o)=ections i# an< o# an<

intereste" $art


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assertion o# the a$$ellant that the ,st a$$ellant ha" )eco!e a :in"0 )< conversion

)e#ore !arriage cannot )e acce$te" an" the !arriage $er#or!e" in accor"ance

-ith :in"0 rites cannot )e acce$te" as vali" 0n"er the :in"0 Marriage Act )< the

Co0rt )elo-%

With the a#oresai" o)servations* the :igh Co0rt re!an"e" the Case to

the lo-er co0rt an" allo-e" the $arties to a""0ce #0rther evi"ence an" also

to a!en" their $lea"ings* i# necessar


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consi"erations o# $0)lic or"er* !oralit< an" health% Cla0se .&1 o# Art%&(

$reserves the $o-er o# the State to !ae a la- reg0lating an< econo!ic*

#inancial* $olitical or other sec0lar activit< -hich !a< )e associate" -ith

religio0s $ractice% Art%&5 gives e##ect to the conco!itant right o# the

#ree"o! to !anage religio0s a##airs an" this right is again s0)=ect to $0)lic

or"er* !oralit< an" health% Articles &( an" &5 0n"o0)te"l< e8ten" to rit0als

also an" not con#ine" to "octrine% It is -ellsettle" that the #ree"o! o#

conscience an" the right to $ro#ess a religion i!$lies #ree"o! to change the

religion as -ell% It is $ertinent to !ention that Art% ,6 o# the niversal

Declaration o# :0!an Rights s$eci#icall< la


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#ollo-ing $ertinent o)servations on religion an" :in"0 religion in

$artic0lar2

HReligion is certainl< a !atter o# #aith -ith in"ivi"0als or co!!0nities an" it is

not necessaril< theistic% There are -ell no-n religions in In"ia lie @0""his!

an" ainis! -hich "o not )elieve in Go" or in an< Intelligent First Ca0se% A

religion 0n"o0)te"l< has its )asis in a s


9/22

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Conversion $nature of and essentials to be proved:

5% Conversion lie a !arriage is a sole!n act% Conversion #ro! one

religion to another has #ar reaching conse?0ences 9social an" legal% It

a##ects s0ccession* !arital stat0s an" also the right to see elective o##ice%Divorce can )e grante" on the gro0n" that the s$o0se has change" the

religion .vi"e Section ,'.,1.ii1 o# the :in"0 Marriage Act1% K$on

conversion a $erson !a< )e governe" )< a "i##erent $ersonal la-% The right

to contest in elections #ro! a constit0enc< reserve" #ro! SCs / STs !ight

)e lost i# the $erson -ho has change" the religion ha$$ene" to )e a !e!)er

o# Sche"0le" Caste or Tri)e% Th0s* the event o# conversion is o# critical

i!$ortance #ro! the $oint o# vie- o# rights an" "isa)ilities o# a convert%

7% Conversion cannot )e treate" as an event -hich can )e achieve"

thro0gh a !ere "eclaration 9 oral or -riting% At the sa!e ti!e* no $artic0lar

#or!alities or cere!onies are re?0ire" accor"ing to the la- "eclare" )<

S0$re!e Co0rt% In #act* no s0ch cere!onies are s$eci#icall< $rescri)e" in

an< religio0s te8ts or $rece$ts* tho0gh certain cere!onies lie JS0""hi; .in

the case o# Ar


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Vie%s of the Commission on the crucial &uestion and relevant case la%2

6% In the Co!!ission;s vie-* stat0tor< $rescri$tion o# $roce"0re to

esta)lish conversion or nat0re o# $roo# re?0ire" is neither "esira)le nor

$ractica)le% Nor!all


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3% The :igh Co0rt;s o)servation that the $roo# in res$ect o# conversion

sho0l" )e si!$li#ie" an" cre"i)le "oc0!entar< evi"ence co0l" )e !a"e

availa)le to those -ho are calle" 0$on to $rove the #act0! o# conversion is

not -itho0t !erit% It ste!s #ro! an an8iet< to avoi" $rolonge" litigation an"

0nnecessar< controversies% @0t* the iss0e has to )e vie-e" #ro! a larger

$ers$ective ee$ing in vie- the socioecono!ic con"itions* the $ractical

"i##ic0lties in i!$le!entation an" the s$0rio0s clai!s that are ?0ite o#ten

a"vance"% The Co0rts incl0"ing S0$re!e Co0rt have consistentl< hel" that

the la- "oes not re?0ire an< $artic0lar cere!on< or rit0al #or conversion*

)0t -hat is necessar< is a #ona fide intention to convert to another religio0s

#aith acco!$anie" )< con"0ct 0ne?0ivocall< e8$ressing that intention% The

satis#action o# the Co0rt on this as$ect sho0l" necessaril< )e $resent an" the

#iling o# "eclaration o# conversion )e#ore a $rescri)e" a0thorit< is one o# the

i!$ortant as$ects that ai"s the Co0rt in reaching s0ch satis#action* )0t that

sho0l" not )e the sole criterion%

,+% It has )een hel" in a n0!)er o# "eci"e" cases incl0"ing the

$rono0nce!ents o# the S0$re!e Co0rt that no $artic0lar #or!alities or

religio0s rit0als or cere!onies are necessar< to )ring a)o0t conversion or

reconversion% In the case o# Pun$a#rao v. %r. %.P. Meshram and others

.AIR ,35( SC ,,731* it -as o)serve" that the $resence o# a @hi0 on the

occasion o# a #0nction hel" #or conversion o# :in"0 :ari=ans into

@0""his! an" co!$liance -ith $artic0lar rit0als is not necessar


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%evarara$an and others ' AIR ,364 SC 4,,1* the S0$re!e Co0rt e8a!ine"

the legal $osition in regar" to caste stat0s on conversion or reconversion to

:in"0is! an" hel" that no $artic0lar cere!on< -as $rescri)e" #or re

conversion to :in"0is!% The >arnataa :igh Co0rt o)serve" in Su$atha v.

+ose )ugustine .II .,3341 Divorce Matri!onial Cases 44&1 that to )e a

Christian* one !0st tr0l< $ro#ess the Christian #aith an" the #act that one has

0n"ergone the cere!on< o# )a$tis! !a< not )< itsel# )e s0##icient to hol"

that he or she has )eco!e a Christian% The #0n"a!ental thing to )e

esta)lishe" )e#ore one can )e hel" to )e Christian is that the $erson

concerne" tr0l< )elieves in an" $ro#esses the Christian #aith%

,+%, The test o# conversion has )een $0t th0s )< the S0$re!e Co0rt in

Perumal &adar v. Ponnusami . supra1%

A $erson !a< )e a :in"0 )< )irth or )< conversion% A !ere theoretical

allegiance to the :in"0 #aith )< a $erson )orn in another #aith "oes not convert

hi! into a :in"0* nor is a )are "eclaration that he is a :in"0 s0##icient to convert

hi! to :in"0is!% @0t a )ona #i"e intention to )e converte" to the :in"0 #aith*

acco!$anie" )< con"0ct 0ne?0ivocall< e8$ressing that intention !a< )e

s0##icient evi"ence o# conversion% No #or!al cere!on< o# $0ri#ication or

e8$iation is necessar< to e##ect0ate conversion% .$ara 51

The S0$re!e Co0rt also o)serve" Hin o0r =0"g!ent the #in"ing o# the

co0rts )elo- that Anna$aha! -as converte" to :in"0is! )e#ore her

!arriage to er0!al is a!$l< s0$$orte" )< evi"ence%

,+%& In ailash Son"ar vs. Smt. Maya %evi .AIR ,364 SC 5++1 the

S0$re!e Co0rt -hile "ealing -ith a case o# reconversion a"o$te" a si!ilar

a$$roach* as seen #ro! the #ollo-ing o)servations2

HIn o0r o$inion* the !ain test sho0l" )e a gen0ine intention o# the reconvert to

a)=0re his ne- religion an" co!$letel< "issociate hi!sel# #ro! it% We !0st

hasten to a"" here that this "oes not !ean that the reconversion sho0l" )e onl< a

r0se or a $rete8t or a cover to gain !0n"ane -orl"l< )ene#its so that the

,&

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reconversion )eco!es !erel< a sho- #or achieving a $artic0lar $0r$ose -hereas

the real intention !a< )e shro0"e" in !erala 7(1 >%G%

@alarishnan* % .as he then -as1 a#ter re#erring to the vario0s a0thorities*

o)serve"2

HIn or"er to $rove that the $etitioner -as a !e!)er o# the :in"0 co!!0nit< she

!0st have esta)lishe" that there -as a )ona #i"e intention to )e converte" to the

:in"0 #aith acco!$anie" )< con"0ct or 0ne?0ivocall< e8$ressing that intention%

It is tr0e that no #or!al cere!on< o# $0ri#ication or e8$iation is necessar< to

e##ect0ate conversion% The $etitioner is a"!itte"l< the "a0ghter o# a aco)ite

Christian% So )< )irth she is a Christian% A convert !0st e!)race :in"0is! an"

#ollo- the c0lt0ral s


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to sho- that the $etitioner ever le" a :in"0 !o"e o# li#e% The onl< gro0n" on

-hich the $etitioner clai!s the )ene#it o# Sche"0le" Caste is that her !other is a

Sche"0le" Caste% . $ara 5 1

,+%4 Si!ilarl


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that the !eaning Jto "eclare one;s )elie# in2 as* to $ro#ess Christ* is one -hich -e have

to )ear in !in" -hile constr0ing the a#oresai" Or"er )eca0se it is this -hich )ears 0$on

religio0s )elie# an" conse?0entl< also 0$on a change in religio0s )elie#% It -o0l" th0s

#ollo- that a "eclaration o# one;s )elie# !0st necessaril< !ean a "eclaration in s0ch a

-a< that -o0l" )e no-n to those -ho! it !a< interest% There#ore* i# a $0)lic

"eclaration is !a"e )< a $erson that he has cease" to )elong to his ol" religion an" has

acce$te" another religion he -ill )e taen as $ro#essing the other religion% In the #ace o#

s0ch an o$en "eclaration it -o0l" )e i"le to en?0ire #0rther as to -hether the conversion

to another religion -as e##icacio0s%. $ara ,'1

In that case* the arg0!ent that no @hi0 ha" o##iciate" at the

#0nction an" that res$on"ent No% ,;s na!e -as not #o0n" in the register o#

conversion to @0""his! an" there#ore* there -as no satis#actor< $roo# o#

conversion -as re=ecte"% The "ecision sho-s that a "eclaration in $0)lic

reno0ncing his ol" religion an" acce$ting another religion is an i!$ortant

ste$ in esta)lishing the #act0! o# conversion to another religion% Another

e?0all< i!$ortant ste$ as lai" "o-n in Perumal0s case is the #ona fide

intention to convert "e!onstrate" )< his/her s0)se?0ent con"0ct% In

Pun$a#rao0s case* the S0$re!e Co0rt -as concerne" -ith the i!$ort o# thee8$ression J$ro#ess; in the resi"ential Or"er%

,,% Tho0gh no $artic0lar #or!alities or cere!onies are re?0ire" to )e

#ollo-e" #or the $0r$ose o# conversion* cre"i)le evi"ence o# intention to

convert #ollo-e" )< s0)se?0ent con"0ct o# the convertee is necessar< in

reaching the concl0sion that there -as gen0ine conversion% The convert

!0st e!)race :in"0is! .or another religion1 an" #ollo- the c0lt0ral an"

s$irit0al tra"itions an" tae to the !o"e o# li#e o# that religion%

,&% It !a< )e note" that in so!e states* vi%* G0=arat* Ma"h


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0se o# #orce* all0re!ent or )< #ra0"0lent !eans an" re?0ires the $erson -ho

$artici$ates or taes $art in the cere!on< #or conversion #ro! one religio0s

#aith to another sho0l" sen" the inti!ation to the District Magistrate either

in a"vance or -ithin a sti$0late" $erio" a#ter the event o# conversion%

Fail0re to "o so is an o##ence% So!e enact!ents cast a "0t< on the $erson

-ho is converte" to sen" a notice to the District Magistrate -ithin a

sti$0late" $erio" in a $rescri)e" #or! an" i# he #ails -itho0t s0##icient ca0se

to co!$l< -ith this re?0ire!ent* he is also $0nisha)le% Th0s* the inti!ation

an" the #iling o# "eclaration is a stat0tor< o)ligation en#orcea)le )< la- in

so!e o# the States% :o-ever* -here there is no s0ch legislation* the

Co!!ission #eels that the #iling o# "eclaration an" registration sho0l" not

)e !a"e o)ligator< or in"is$ensa)le !o"e o# $roo# o# conversion% Nor it is

necessar< or "esira)le #or the arlia!ent to ste$ in an" incor$orate s0ch a

$rovision in the :in"0 Marriage Act an" other la-s% We are not concerne"

here -ith the iss0e o# #orci)le or in"0ce" conversions an" re!e"ial action to

)e taen in connection there-ith% We are onl< e8a!ining the li!ite"

?0estion o# the evi"entiar< $roo# re?0ire" to esta)lish the #act0! o#

conversion -hen a "is$0te arises%

,'% Vie-e" in this light* the Co!!ission is o# the vie- that the

s0ggestion o# the :igh Co0rt "eserves to )e acce$te" to a li!ite" e8tent so

as to a##or" an o$$ort0nit< to those converts -ho -o0l" lie to have

"oc0!entar< evi"ence o# "eclaration to s0)stantiate the $lea o# conversion

as an" -hen re?0ire"% At the sa!e ti!e* the #iling o# "eclaration an"

recor"ing thereo# sho0l" not )e !a"e o)ligator< an" an in"is$ensa)le !o"e

o# $roo# o# conversion* )0t it sho0l" onl< )e !a"e o$tional so that the

converte" $erson -ill )e ena)le" to have "oc0!entar< $roo# to esta)lish the

#act0! o# conversion/reconversion in the a)sence o# other relia)le

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"oc0!entar< evi"ence% :o-ever* as state" earlier* s0ch "oc0!entar< $roo#

testi#


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)ac"ro$ in -hich the co!$0lsor< registration o# !arriages -as consi"ere"

necessar< in societal interest is not a$$lica)le in all #o0rs to religio0s

conversions% Ma


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conversion -hich is not in t0ne -ith the constit0tional g0arantee o# #ree"o!

o# conscience%

,(%& We have alrea"< a"verte" to so!e o# these as$ects% The Co!!ission

-o0l" lie to reiterate that the "eclaration #ollo-e" )< con#ir!ation sho0l"

not )< itsel# )e treate" as $roo# o# conversion an" secon"l< it -o0l" )e

highl< ina$$ro$riate to $rescri)e )< -a< o# legislation the "etails o#

cere!onies an"/or #or!alities to )e gone thro0gh #or the $0r$ose o#

conversion or the !anner in -hich )< la- the conversion has to )e $rove"

in a co0rt o# la-% Ne)0lo0s $rescri$tions o0ght to )e avoi"e"% F0rther* the

-hole $ro)le! has to )e vie-e" #ro! the angle -hether the conversion -as

)ona #i"e or gen0ine% The o)servance o# the $rescri)e" cere!on< or the

"eclaration o# the convert cannot give sanctit< to the allege" conversion* i#

the conversion is other-ise a Jsha!; e8ercise or a $retence to achieve an

0lterior o)=ective or the res0lt o# #orce or all0re!ent% Free"o! o# conscience

is in no -a< in#ringe" )< a"o$ting this a$$roach% The Co!!ission is*

there#ore* o# the vie- that the #iling o# "eclaration or the $roo# o#

o)servance o# certain rit0als / cere!onies cannot* having regar" to the

essence o# conversion* )e treate" as concl0sive $roo# o# conversion% @0t* the

"eclaration #ollo-e" )< con#ir!ation* as sai" earlier* serves as an i!$ortant

$iece o# evi"ence in s0$$ort o# conversion%

,(%' Co!ing to the res$onses sent )< the Rev% Arch)isho$ o# @ho$al an"

the Christian Organiations o# M .-hich are al!ost on si!ilar lines1* the

#ollo-ing is the s0!!ar< o# the re$resentations2

Cases are )eing registere" against Christians on the allegation o#

e##ecting conversion )< #orce or all0re!ent an" the #0n"a!ental

organisations have also )een "ist0r)ing the $ra


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ro$er g0i"elines on the s0)=ect o# religio0s conversions an" re

conversions -ill hel$ avoi"ing con#licts% The la- sho0l" )e s0ch as to

res$ect the conscience o# the in"ivi"0al% When the change o# religion is a

conscio0s choice o# an in"ivi"0al )ase" on his )elie# in Go"* the la- cannot

insist on o)taining the $rior $er!ission #ro! the District Magistrate to

change his or her religion% It is onl< a#ter the conversion that it -o0l" )e

a$$ro$riate to sen" the inti!ation to the concerne" o##icer o# the

Govern!ent%

,(%4 So!e o# the $oints re#erre" to a)ove relate to the legal vali"it< o#

certain $rovisions o# the Free"o! o# Religion Act enacte" )< Ma"h


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2. The registering official shall exhibit a copy of the declaration on

the Notice Board of the office till the date of confirmation.

3. The said declaration shall contain the requisite details viz., the

particulars of the convert such as date of birth, permanent

address, and the present place of residence, father’s/husband’s

name, the religion to which the convert originally belonged and the

religion to which he or she converted, the date and place of

conversion and nature of the process gone through for

conversion.

4. Within 21 days from the date of sending/filing the declaration, the

converted individual can appear before the registering officer,

establish her/his identity and confirm the contents of the

declaration.

5. The Registering officer shall record the factum of declaration and

confirmation in a register maintained for this purpose. If any

objections are notified, he may simply record them i.e., the name

and particulars of objector and the nature of objection.

6. Certified copies of declaration, confirmation and the extracts from

the register shall be furnished to the party who gave the

declaration or the authorized legal representative, on request.

,7% No-* the ?0estion arises as to ho- the a)ove reco!!en"ations co0l"

)e i!$le!ente"% It is clari#ie" that in -hichever State* there is a la-

governing conversion s0ch as Free"o! o# Religion Act* the a)ove

reco!!en"ations "o not a$$l


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o# la- )< arlia!ent is necessar

law commission report no,235- conversion, reconversion to another religion - mode of proof

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