Supreme Court to Decide State Anti-Conversion Laws, Takes Up Related Cases from High Courts

The Supreme Court has transferred all petitions pending before various High Courts that challenge state anti-conversion laws to itself.

The bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran has directed states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Karnataka, to file their responses within four weeks. 

The Court has also indicated it will consider staying the operation of these laws after six weeks.

Petitioners have raised issues about minimum sentences (some running up to life imprisonment), the reverse burden of proof, harsh bail conditions, and alleged misuse in interfaith marriage cases. 

[Citizens for Justice and Peace v. State of Uttar Pradesh and ors and connected matters].