SC Issues Notices to 8 States on Religious Conversion Laws

• By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
• Sep 16, 2025
• 699

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to eight states regarding their laws on religious conversion and asked them to submit their replies within four weeks. The states include Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand and Karnataka.

A bench comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the validity of these laws. The petitioners argued that though the legislations are titled Freedom of Religion Acts, they effectively curtail the religious freedom of minorities and are being misused to target interfaith marriages and religious practices.

Senior advocates Indira Jaising, Sanjay Hegde, M.R. Shamshad, Sanjay Parikh, and others appeared for the petitioners. The bench posted the matter for the next hearing after six weeks.

During the proceedings, senior advocate Chander Uday Singh highlighted that Uttar Pradesh amended its anti-conversion law in 2024, increasing the punishment from 20 years to life imprisonment. He said bail provisions had also been tightened, and the law allowed third parties to file complaints, leading to harassment of individuals participating in church prayers or interfaith marriages by vigilante groups.

Background of the Case

The Supreme Court had first issued notice in this matter back in 2020. Later, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind requested that the 21 petitions pending across six High Courts be transferred to the apex court for consolidated hearing. Presently, some provisions of these laws are under judicial stay in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.