TO DO OR NOT TO DO

The constitutional right to freedom of religion, which is also said to include the right to convert, has been taken up time and again by the Indian courts. The problem, however, arises when a person is forced or lured to convert to another religion

- Dr Swati Jindal Garg

THE constitutional freedom of religion is the most inalienable and sacred of all human rights. The freedom of religion means the right of the individual to choose and to adhere to whichever religious beliefs he may prefer, to join with others in religious associations to express these beliefs, and to incur no civil disabilities because of his choice. Freedom to practice one's own religion has been a fundamental right that every citizen of India is given under our Constitution. However, just like nothing in life is constant except change, a person has also been given the right to choose the religion that he wants to practice, and if for this purpose, he takes up the option of converting to another religion at some point in his life, then the same should be allowed to him as a part of his fundamental rights. This issue wherein the right to freedom of religion is also said to include the right to convert has been taken up time and again by the Indian courts.

The problem, however, arises when a person is forced to convert to another religion. A recent allegation of "forced conversions" into Christianity has been raised by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, who has called a gathering of the Sikh community to discuss the issue at Anandpur Sahib. He has also said that "forced conversions will not be tolerated anymore" and that the community needs to "seriously think about demanding an anti-conversion law" in Punjab. The jathedar also went ahead and said: "We have never demanded an anti-conversion law in Punjab. We didn't want it. But such a situation has been created now that we are pushed to make the demand. Sikhs need to seriously think about demanding this law, which we never wanted in the first place."