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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. (PTI data map)
The bill also expands the definition of “love jihad” to include other crimes, all of which are now punishable by life imprisonment
The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government on Monday proposed an amendment to the existing law on “love jihad”, proposing life imprisonment for those convicted of these crimes.
The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Beliefs (Amendment) Bill proposes doubling the penalties for offenses under “love jihad”, with possible life imprisonment for certain offenses.
The bill also expands the definition of “love jihad” to include other crimes, all of which are now punishable by life imprisonment.
Violations under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Beliefs Act, 2021 are punishable with a jail term of one to 10 years. The law stipulates that if a woman converts solely for the purpose of marriage, the marriage will be considered “void.” Furthermore, the burden is on the defendant and the convert to prove that the conversion was not coerced.
The Adityanath government has long taken a tough stance on “love jihad”, making it a key issue in the 2017 parliamentary elections. Since then, the government has been working on enacting strict laws to address the issue. The new bill includes provisions that would allow courts to impose fines to cover victims' medical bills.
In addition, the bill also expands the scope of reporting cases of “love jihad”. Previously, only victims, their parents or siblings could lodge a complaint. Under the new bill, anyone can submit a written complaint to the police, who will then investigate.
