Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel has signed the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance 2020 following which it became the first state in India to form a law against love-jihad.
This new law has come into force from today in Uttar Pradesh which will curb "forcible or dishonest" religious conversions under love-jihad.
Notably, this development has come days after the state government approved a draft ordinance to curb forcible or "dishonest" religious conversions including those which are done for the sake of marriage. Under the new law, any violator will have to serve a term of 10-year-imprisonment.
On Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Siddharth Nath Singh had informed about the cabinet's decision to bring an ordinance against love-jihad activities.
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The law against love-jihad suggests that for conversions of minors and women of the SC/ST community, violators will be jailed for a term of three to ten years with a penalty of Rs 25,000. In case of mass conversion, a jail term of 3-10 years and a fine of at least Rs 50,000 will have to be paid by offenders.
Under the anti-love jihad law, a marriage will be declared “null and void” if the conversion of a woman is solely for that purpose. However, those wishing to change their religion after marriage need to apply to the district magistrate.
Meanwhile, Haryana's Home Minister Anil Vij said the state government has set up a three-member committee to draft a law against 'love jihad'.