PIL in SC seeks direction to Centre against black magic

Representative image. Reuters

New Delhi: A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking instructions for the Center and the states to control black magic, superstition and religious conversion through gifts and monetary benefits.

The statement submitted by BJP advocate and leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay has also sought instructions to determine the feasibility of appointing a committee to enact a Religion Conversion Act to control the abuse of religion.

Religious conversion by means of the “carrot and stick” and “by hook or by crook” not only offends articles 14, 21 and 25, but also contravenes the principles of secularism, which is an integral part of the basic structure of the Constitution.

The petitioner declares with dismay that the Center and the States have not been able to control the threat of black magic, superstition and deceptive religious conversion, although it is their duty under Article 51A, said the statement submitted through attorney Ashwani Kumar Dubey.

Alleging that the government has not taken any concrete action against threats from society, the allegation says that the Center can enact a law with a minimum sentence of 3 years in prison that can be extended up to 10 years and a hefty fine can be imposed.

In addition, the Center can empower the National Human Rights Commission to deal with the affairs of religious groups and control by conducting an in-depth analysis of religious discrimination among them, he said.

The PIL has also requested instructions from the Law Commission of India to prepare a report on Black Magic, Superstition and Religious Conversion within three months.

The petitioner maintains that the population explosion and religious conversion by carrot and stick is a national problem, so the Center must enact a strong and effective population control law and an anti-conversion law with the highest priority.

Due to the population explosion and deceptive religious conversion, Hindus have become a minority in nine states and UT and the situation is getting worse by the day, according to the statement.