Gujarat HC stays some sections of new anti-conversion law

The Gujarat High Court on Thursday stayed the operation of some sections related to interfaith marriages of the state’s new anti-conversion law, in a setback to the state government. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Biren Vaishnav said the interim order has been passed to protect people from unnecessary harassment. Last month, the Gujarat chapter of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind filed a petition, claiming that some of the amended sections of the state’s new law were unconstitutional.

On Thursday, Chief Justice Nath said, “We are of the opinion that pending further hearing, rigors of section 3,4, 4a to 4c, 5, 6, and 6a shall not operate merely because the marriage is solemnised by a person of one religion with another religion without force, allurement or fraudulent means and such marriages cannot be termed as marriage for the purpose of unlawful conversion.” “This interim order is to protect the parties which solemnised interfaith marriages from unnecessary harassment,” he said. The stay on these sections effectively means that an FIR under this law cannot be lodged merely on the basis of his or her interfaith marriage.