Distribution of Bible not allurement for non secular conversion, says Allahabad High Court

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court has stated that distributing copies of the Bible and different non secular books can’t be referred to as an allurement for non secular conversion, attracting offences beneath the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act 2021 (UPPUCRA-2021).

While granting bail to 2 accused individuals who have been booked for alluring individuals of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Community for conversion to Christianity, the bench of Justice Shamim Ahmad stated that an unaffected particular person couldn’t lodge an FIR for offences beneath this UPPUCRA-2021.

The bench additionally handed the order permitting an enchantment filed in opposition to rejection of bail pleas of the 2 accused individuals named Jose Papachen and Sheeja. The appellants have been despatched to jail in pursuance to an FIR lodged by a BJP office-bearer with Jalalpur police station in Ambedkar Nagar district on January 24, 2023. The complainant had alleged that the 2 accused individuals have been alluring members of the SC/ST group for getting transformed to Christianity.

In his order, Justice Ahmad noticed, “Providing teaching, distributing Holy Bible books, encouraging children for getting education, organizing assembly of villagers and performing Bhandara, instructing the villagers not to enter into altercation and not to take liquor do not amount to allurement under the 2021 Act.”

The bench additional stated that the UPPUCRA-2021 offered that solely an aggrieved particular person or his household might lodge the FIR within the matter of conversion however within the current case, the FIR was lodged by a BJP workplace bearer.

It was argued on behalf of the appellants that they have been harmless and have been implicated as a consequence of political rivalry. It was additionally stated that serving to folks was not an allurement and actually it was a failure on the a part of the state to offer fundamental facilities to folks in want.

LUCKNOW: The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court has stated that distributing copies of the Bible and different non secular books can’t be referred to as an allurement for non secular conversion, attracting offences beneath the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act 2021 (UPPUCRA-2021).

While granting bail to 2 accused individuals who have been booked for alluring individuals of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Community for conversion to Christianity, the bench of Justice Shamim Ahmad stated that an unaffected particular person couldn’t lodge an FIR for offences beneath this UPPUCRA-2021.

The bench additionally handed the order permitting an enchantment filed in opposition to rejection of bail pleas of the 2 accused individuals named Jose Papachen and Sheeja. The appellants have been despatched to jail in pursuance to an FIR lodged by a BJP office-bearer with Jalalpur police station in Ambedkar Nagar district on January 24, 2023. The complainant had alleged that the 2 accused individuals have been alluring members of the SC/ST group for getting transformed to Christianity.googletag.cmd.push(operate() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

In his order, Justice Ahmad noticed, “Providing teaching, distributing Holy Bible books, encouraging children for getting education, organizing assembly of villagers and performing Bhandara, instructing the villagers not to enter into altercation and not to take liquor do not amount to allurement under the 2021 Act.”

The bench additional stated that the UPPUCRA-2021 offered that solely an aggrieved particular person or his household might lodge the FIR within the matter of conversion however within the current case, the FIR was lodged by a BJP workplace bearer.

It was argued on behalf of the appellants that they have been harmless and have been implicated as a consequence of political rivalry. It was additionally stated that serving to folks was not an allurement and actually it was a failure on the a part of the state to offer fundamental facilities to folks in want.