Haryana Govt yet to issue notification for Enforcement of Prevention of Unlawful Conversion of Religon Act, 2022-HC Advocate
A case under this law has recently been registered by Faridabad police-Advocate Hemant Kumar
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, December 3, 2022: Hemant Kumar, an Advocate at Punjab and Haryana High Court has written to Haryana Governor, Chief Minister, Home Minister, Chief Secretary, Home Secretary stating that although the Enforcement of Prevention of Unlawful Conversion of Religon Act, 2022 has been passed by the State Assembly received assent of the State Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, its notification has not been issued yet.
Pertinent that this law has been enacted by the State Legislative Assembly early this year.
"Although the above legislation after being passed by the State Assembly received assent of the State Governor Bandaru Dattatreya after which the same has also been published as duly enacted Act on April 12, 2022 in Haryana Government Gazette followed by its authorized Hindi translation on June 8, 2022 which has also been published in State Gazette but as far the commencement (enforcement) of this Act is concerned, the requisite Notification for the same has not been issued by the Home Department of the State Government till date which is nevertheless mandatory under Section 1(2) of the above 2022 Act. I wonder that when this law has itself not been brought into force in the State via issuance of above Notification, then how can any case be registered under the provisions of this 2022 law?,"he stated.
Hemant added that a case under this law has recently been registered by Faridabad police.
"Recently on 1 Dec 2022, the Haryana Cabinet also accorded approval to the draft of the Haryana Prevention of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Rules, 2022 in order to achieve the objectives and to carry out the provisions of the above referred 2022 Act. Pertinent that this Act has been enacted with the objective to provide for prevention of unlawful conversion from one religion to another by misrepresentation, use of force, threat, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means or by marriage or for marriage and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto," he added.