Once passed by the Assembly, the new law will replace the existing MP Dharma Swatantrya Adhiniyam, 1968, law. However, unlike the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance, under the MP law, a person converting of his own free will does not have to report it to the district magistrate. In case a person approaches a priest for such a conversion though, the priest concerned has to inform the district administration. Under the new MP Bill, a family court in the state will be empowered to declare marriages conducted for the purpose of religious conversion null and void. In his interactions with mediapersons, Home Minister Narottam Mishra had said they were also exploring the possibility of attaching the property of the accused.

Source: Indian Express December 26, 2020 00:22 UTC