Supreme Court: Important comment of the Supreme Court, 'The purpose of helping the poor should not be to convert them'

The Supreme Court has once again made strict remarks on illegal conversions. Describing those who convert religion by luring money, food, or medicine as wrong, the Supreme Court said, whoever wants to help the poor and needy, must do so. But its purpose cannot be to convert religion.

A two-judge bench headed by Supreme Court Justice MR Shah is hearing the demand for a stringent law against religious conversion through pressure, deception, or greed. In the last hearing, the court had termed religious conversion in this way as dangerous for the security of the country. The Center also agreed with this and said that 9 states have made laws against it. The Center will also take the necessary steps.

There should be a committee for matters of religious conversion.

The Solicitor General said, "There should be a committee to look into the cases of religious conversion, which will decide whether there has been a change of heart or there has been an attempt to change religion under greed and pressure." The court had asked the central government to give an affidavit after gathering information about other states as well. Today Solicitor General Tushar Mehta demanded some more time for this. On this, the court asked for a hearing on Monday 12th December.

the state can have its say

The court made it clear that it would not seek answers by issuing notices to all the states, as this would unnecessarily prolong the matter. If any state wants to put forward its point, it can do so.

During the hearing, senior advocates Sanjay Hegde and Raju Ramachandran, appearing for Christian organizations, said, "The court has already refused to hear the petitioner Ashwini Upadhyay's petition. Now the hearing should not be held."

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, taking a jibe at the argument of the Christian body's lawyer, said, "What problem can a priest have with this hearing? If he does not convert through greed or deceit, he should not be bothered." The court said that now it will not consider the argument that the petition is not worth hearing. People file their replies on the case.

Also Read: Hearing in SC against forcible conversion today: Central government has to file an affidavit, court had said – take necessary steps