Karnataka Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021

Karnataka Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021

Part of: Prelims and GS-I- Society

Context The Karnataka legislative Assembly passed The Karnataka Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021, commonly referred to as the anti-conversion Bill.

• The Bill will now go to the Karnataka Legislative Council.

Key features of the bill

• It prohibits conversion from one religion to another by misrepresentation, force, fraud, allurement or marriage.
• It, however, provides an exemption in the case of a person who “reconverts to his immediate previous religion” as “the same shall not be deemed to be a conversion under this Act”.
• Complaints regarding conversions can be filed by family members or any other person who is related to the individual who is getting converted.
• A jail term of three to five years and a fine of Rs 25,000 has been proposed for those violating the law in the case of people from general categories.
• A jail term of three to 10 years and a fine of Rs 50,000 has been mooted for those converting minors, women or persons from SC/ST communities.
• The Bill also envisages payment of a compensation of Rs 5 lakh (on court orders) to victims of conversion by the persons attempting the conversion, and double punishment for repeat offences.