UP: Life Imprisonment for Love Jihad... Yogi Govt introduced bill in Assembly

This time the results of the Lok Sabha elections have not been good for the BJP in UP. Yet CM Yogi is sticking to his Hindutva agenda. Controversy is still going on over the decision to install name plates in the Kavad Yatra. However, the Supreme Court has banned this. Now that the Yogi government has taken a look at the love jihad, the government has decided to impose stricter punishment on illegal conversions in UP. For the first time these offenses have been punishable with life imprisonment.

The Yogi government introduced the UP Unlawful Conversion Prohibition (Amendment) Bill 2024 in the Assembly. In this, the punishment for already prescribed offenses is doubled. Some other offenses carry life imprisonment. In the 2017 assembly elections, the Yogi government made 'Love Jihad' an election issue.

A proposal to increase the scope of both the offense and the punishment

To prevent this, in the year 2020, the Prohibition of Illegal Conversion Ordinance was passed by UP. In 2021, it was passed in the legislature and made legal. The Act carries a maximum sentence of 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 50,000. The proposed bill proposes to increase both the scope of the crime and the punishment.

Funding for illegal conversions has also been brought under the ambit of this law. This also includes funding from foreign entities or any illegal organization. If any person, with intent to convert, puts any person in danger of life or property, or assaults, uses force or promises or conspires to marry any person, he shall be liable to imprisonment for life and also to fine.

Now anyone can report a crime to the police

The court may fix a fine in lieu of the cost of the victim's treatment. The government says that the punishment for the crime will also be determined based on the susceptibility of the crime, the social status of women belonging to Dalit-backward communities. A need was felt to increase punishment and fines to prevent illegal conversions. Hence this bill is being brought.

Another change has been made in the law. It is also proposed to increase the coverage of information in events. Earlier the victim, his parents, siblings or any relative could have registered the crime. Now anyone can give this information to the police in writing. It can be checked. All offenses are non-bailable under the Act. It will not be tried under the Sessions Court. A bail application will not be entertained without giving an opportunity to the public prosecutor.