Supreme Court – Photo: ANI Expansion Supreme Court to hear state government’s petition challenging Madhya Pradesh High Court’s decision on conversion law has given consent. Along with this, the apex court said on Tuesday that all cases of conversion cannot be considered illegal. The Madhya Pradesh High Court has restrained the state government from prosecuting couples who perform inter-faith marriages without the permission of the District Collector. This has been challenged by the state government in the apex court. Issuing notice in the matter, a bench of Supreme Court Justice MR Shah and Justice CT Ravikumar fixed February 7 for further hearing. refused to stay the order of the High Court
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had requested a stay on the order of the MP High Court, but the Supreme Court refused to issue any direction. Mehta said that marriages are being done for illegal conversion and we cannot sit with our eyes closed on this. The Madhya Pradesh High Court, in its interim order, has ordered the state government to enforce the provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Act (MPFRA) on adults entering into inter-faith marriages with consent. ) do not prosecute under section 13. Madhya Pradesh High Court 360 ) said on November that the section of the said law 13 is unconstitutional. Under this section, it is mandatory for citizens wishing to convert to take prior approval of district collectors. Conversion through falsehood or deception, allurement, threat, undue influence, forced marriage or any other fraud is prohibited under the MP Religious Freedom Act. The Madhya Pradesh High Court has given the said interim order on seven petitions challenging the provisions of this law. The petitioners had sought interim relief restraining the MP government from prosecuting anyone under the Act. ,