Nothing illegal about missionaries spreading Christianity : Tamil Nadu to Supreme Court

Chennai, May 02: Saying Article 25 of the Constitution gives people a right to “spread their religion peacefully” and “change their beliefs”, the Tamil Nadu government has filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court of India opposing anti-conversion laws.

 

 

In its affidavit, the Tamil Nadu govt claimed that Christian missionaries in Tamil Nadu are not doing anything illegal. The Tamil Nadu government also submitted that there have been no cases of forced religious conversions in Tamil Nadu.

 

This was in response to a PIL filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, which sought to declare fraudulent conversion and conversion by intimidation, threat, deception and luring through gifts and monetary benefits violative of the fundamental rights of the Constitution. Upadhyay had also sought for directing the Centre and states to take stringent steps to fight fraudulent religious conversion.

 

 

 

While opposing anti-conversion laws, it claimed that such laws are ‘prone to misuse’ against religious minorities. The Tamil Nadu government added that the Constitution does not grant power to courts to direct the framing of law and that it is the prerogative of the State Assembly and Parliament to make laws.

 

It also said, “As a secular nation, every citizen of India has the right to freedom of religion i.e. right to follow any religion. As one can find so many religions being practiced in India, the constitution guarantees to every citizen the liberty to follow the religion of their choice.”

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