 bill no 51 of  2015 the prohibition on forced religious conversion bill, 2015 byshri at nana patil, mp a billto provide for prohibition on religious conversion by use of force, allurement or fraudulent means and for matters connected therewithbe it enacted by parliament in the sixty-sixth year of the republic of india as follows:—1 (1) this act may be called the prohibition on forced religious conversion act, 2015definitions2 in this act, unless the context otherwise requires,—(a) "allurement" means offer of any temptation in the form of—(i) any gift or gratification, either in cash or kind; (ii) grant of any material benefit, either monetary or otherwise;5(b) "conversion" means renouncing one religion and adopting anotherreligion;(c) "force" includes a show of force or a threat of injury of any kindincluding a threat of divine displeasure or social excommunication;(d) "fraudulent means" include misrepresentation or any other fraudulentcontrivance;10(e) "minor" means a person who has not completed eighteen years ofage; and(f) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this act15prohibition of forced conversion3 no person shall convert or attempt to convert, or abet the conversion of,either directly or otherwise, any person from one religion to another by use of force, allurement or any fraudulent meanspunishment4 (1) whoever contravenes the provision of section 3 shall be punished withimprisonment for a term, which may extend to three years and also be liable to a fine, which may extend to rupees fifty thousand20(2) notwithstanding anything in sub-section (1), whoever contravenes theprovisions of section 3 in respect of a minor, a woman or a person belonging to the scheduled caste or the scheduled tribe shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and also be liable to a fine which may extend to rupees one lakh255 (1) whoever performs conversion by performing any ceremony as a religiouspriest or takes part, directly or indirectly, in such ceremony, shall give information regarding such conversion to the district magistrate concerned in such form and within such period before performing of the ceremony, as may be prescribedprior permission to be taken from district magistrate with respect to conversion30(2) whoever fails to comply with the provisions of sub-section (1) shall bepunished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to rupees twenty-five thousand or with both6 no prosecution for an offence under this act shall be instituted except by or with the previous sanction of the district magistrate or such other authority not below the rank of a sub-divisional magistrate as may be authorised by him in that behalf35prosecution to be made with the sanction of district magistrate7 (1) an offence under this act shall be cognizableoffence to be cognizable(2) an offence under this act shall be investigated by an officer not below therank of an inspector8 the provisions of this act shall be in addition to and not in derogation of any other law for the time being in force40act not to be in derogation of other lawspower to make rules9 (1) the central government may, by notification in the official gazette, makerules for carrying out the purposes of the act(2) every rule made under this act by the central government shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each house of parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or45more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both the houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule5 statement of objects  and  reasonsfollowing the tenets of a particular religion is a matter of personal faith and belief for an individual basically religious conversion itself causes hurt to faith and belief of an individual when it is done through allurement or force or mischief or by taking advantage of poverty of a person balance of society is disturbed when religious conversion is done through the means of force, fraud or allurement religious conversion performed through such means not only transgresses the freedom of religion available to every citizen, but also creates law and order problemtherefore, it is necessary to take steps to keep a check on religious conversions by force or fraudulent meanshence this billnew delhi;at nana patilfebruary 5, 2015 memorandum  regarding  delegated  legislationclause 9 of the bill empowers the central government to make rules for carrying out the purposes of the billas the rules will relate to matters of detail only, the delegation of legislative power is of a normal character———— a billto provide for prohibition on  religious conversion by use of force, allurement or fraudulent means and for matters connected therewith—————(shri at nana patil, mp)gmgipmrnd—4763ls(s4)—02-03-2015