Majority Will be in Minority One Day: Allahabad High Court on Conversions

New Delhi: The Allahabad High Court on Monday raised alarms over the ongoing trend of conversions during religious congregations, cautioning that if allowed to persist, this could lead to the “majority population of India eventually becoming a minority.” The remarks were made by a bench comprising Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal, which emphasized the need to halt such activities immediately.

The Court's observations came during the hearing of a bail plea by one Kailash, accused under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021. The petitioner was alleged to have organized a gathering in Delhi where individuals, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, were reportedly converted to Christianity against their will. The accused had argued that the attendees voluntarily participated in discussions about Christian faith and well-being.

Rejecting the bail plea, the Court underscored that the alleged conversions were not in line with the Constitution's provisions on religious freedom. Article 25 guarantees freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practice, and propagate religion but does not sanction forced conversions. The bench highlighted instances where people from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and economically weaker sections were reportedly targeted for conversion at an alarming rate in Uttar Pradesh.

"The word 'Propagation' means to promote, but it does not mean to convert any person from his religion to another religion," stated the Court, reaffirming its stance against coercive religious conversions.

The High Court's decision resonates against the backdrop of contentious debates surrounding religious conversions in India, with various states enacting laws to regulate such activities. The Uttar Pradesh law specifically prohibits religious conversions that are induced by fraud, force, or allurement, aiming to safeguard individuals' rights to religious identity.

The bench's ruling not only refused bail to the accused but also highlighted the seriousness of the allegations, noting statements from victims and witnesses that pointed to systematic efforts to convert individuals during social gatherings. 

However, noting that the allegations against the accused are serious, the Court refused to grant him bail. While doing so, the Court took into account the Statements of the alleged victims/witnesses recorded by the IO, which revealed that the accused had been taking away people to attend the religious congregation held in New Delhi, where they are being converted to Christianity.