Adults free to choose religion: Supreme Court

New Delhi, April 9

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Maintaining that an adult is free to choose a religion of his or her choice, the Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a BJP leader’s PIL seeking directions to ban black magic, superstition and fraudulent religious conversions.

Violates Article 25

There is a reason why word ‘propagate’ figures in Article 25 of Constitution, which guarantees right to religion. SC Bench

“We don’t see a reason why a person above 18 years can’t choose his or her religion,” a Bench, headed by Justice RF Nariman, said, terming Delhi BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay’s PIL a “publicity interest litigation”.

The top court said there was a reason why the word “propagate” figured in Article 25 of the Constitution which guaranteed right to religion. After the top court’s refusal to entertain his PIL, Upadhyay chose to withdraw it. Later, the BJP leader said he would approach the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Law Commission.

Upadhyay — also an advocate — had sought directions to the Centre and states to ban black magic, superstition and fraudulent, and forcible religious conversions. He wanted the SC to ask the government to appoint a committee to ascertain the feasibility of enacting an anti-conversion law to check the abuse of religion. Upadhyay pointed out that the SC had in the Sarla Mudgal case (1995) directed the Centre to ascertain the feasibility of enacting an anti-conversion law. — TNS