Religious conversion: Supreme Court seeks AG's assistance, says won't expunge (for now) statements in petition against minority religions

The Supreme Court on Monday sought the assistance of Attorney General for India R Venkataramani in a plea seeking steps against alleged forceful and deceitful religious conversions in the country. .A bench of Justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar, also turned down the opposition of the Tamil Nadu government against a fresh petition in the matter seeking a probe by the National Investigation of India (NIA) into the death of a student in Thanjavur. The counsel for Tamil Nadu stated that the fresh plea was baseless and the Court should not entertain the same."This is a politically motivated PIL. There is no question of such conversions in Tamil Nadu. Let the legislature decide such things," Senior Advocate P Wilson submitted on behalf of Tamil Nadu.But the bench rebuked the State, saying it has already decided to examine the issue that it deemed a serious one."We are concerned for the entire country, all the States. If it is happening in your State, it is bad. If not, good. Do not see it as targeting one State. Do not make it political," Justice Shah remarked. Pertinently, the bench said that it will not expunge the comments made against certain minority religions in the petition.During one of the previous hearings, Senior Counsel Dushyant Dave, appearing for certain minority religious bodies, had said the petition contains certain scurrilous allegations against minority religions.The counsel for the petitioner assured the Court today that those submissions won't be pursued."We are not pressing those," he submitted."Do no get into that," the Court said.At the same time, it said that those won't be deleted for now."At present, nothing will be expunged," the bench remarked..The plea by BJP leader and advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, has sought stringent steps to tackle forceful religious conversions. The public interest litigation (PIL) petition has claimed that fraudulent and deceitful religious conversion is rampant across the country, and that the Central government has failed to control its menace.During the hearing of the matter on December 5, the apex court had taken a dim view of religious conversion in the guise of charity, stating that the intention of persons offering such charity will have to be examined in such cases. The Court had also remarked that those in India have to act as per its culture and Constitution.The Central government in its affidavit has taken the stance that fundamental right to practice and propagate any religion under the Constitution does not include any fundamental right to convert people..At today's hearing, the bench at the request of Senior Counsel Sanjay Hegde, changed the causetitle of the case to In Re: Issue of Religious Conversions. The Court directed Tamil Nadu to file its response to the fresh plea on Thanjavur suicide. It further asked the Attorney General to assist in the matter either as Amicus Curiae or otherwise. The matter will be heard again in February. .[Read order]