Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel on Saturday gave assent to an ordinance which penalises religious conversions through fraudulent means, including those for the sake of marriage. The Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Ordinance, 2020, provides for 10 years in jail in some cases.

The ordinance has been promulgated and published in the gazette notification after the assent of the Governor, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Rajesh Rajora said. With this notification, the ordinance has become a law. “No person shall convert or attempt to convert, either directly or otherwise, any other person by use of misrepresentation, allurement, use of threat of force, undue influence, coercion or marriage or by any other fraudulent means,” it says. Any conversion in contravention of this provision shall be deemed null and void, it adds.

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