High Court Raises Concerns Over Religious Conversions: Majority Population Could Become Minority

The Allahabad High Court was reviewing the bail plea of Kailash, who is accused of transporting individuals from Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh to a Delhi event where conversions were occurring.

Lucknow: The Allahabad High Court has emphasized the need to halt religious gatherings where conversions occur, warning that such activities could lead to the majority population becoming a minority.

During the hearing of Kailash's bail petition, the court highlighted the widespread issue of unlawful conversions in Uttar Pradesh. Kailash is accused of taking people from Hamirpur to a Delhi event for conversions. According to the FIR, Kailash transported Ramphal, Ramkali Prajapati's brother, to Delhi, promising treatment for his mental illness. However, Ramphal never returned, and Kailash failed to provide satisfactory explanations.

The FIR further states that numerous individuals from Hamirpur village were taken to the Delhi gathering and converted to Christianity. Kailash now faces charges of kidnapping and violations under the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.

Additional Advocate General PK Giri, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, informed the court that large-scale conversions to Christianity were occurring at these gatherings. Witnesses testified that Kailash was involved in transporting villagers for conversion and received payment in return.

In defense, Kailash's counsel Saket Jaiswal argued that Ramphal merely attended a Christian gathering without converting and pointed out that the organizer, Sonu Paster, was already granted bail.

Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal noted that while Article 25 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and religious practice, it does not endorse conversion from one faith to another. The court asserted that "Propagation" means promotion, not conversion.

Highlighting the disappearance of Ramphal and multiple witness accounts implicating Kailash, the court denied Kailash's bail. The court warned that continued conversions could eventually lead to the majority population becoming a minority and called for an immediate cessation of such gatherings.

The court remarked on the rampant pace of unlawful conversions of economically disadvantaged individuals, including those from SC/ST communities, to Christianity across Uttar Pradesh.