Hindu organization approaches Supreme Court challenging petitions against conversion laws:

News Topical, Digital Desk : Hindu organisation Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti on Thursday filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking its intervention in a batch of petitions challenging laws enacted in several states to curb illegal and forced religious conversions.

The petition, filed through advocate Atulesh Kumar, challenges the laws enacted in several states, including the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act 2018, the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act 2021, the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act 2019 and the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act 2021.

In September, the Supreme Court transferred to itself petitions pending in various high courts challenging the laws. The All India Sant Samiti has requested a direction to be made a party in the case and allowed to file written submissions in court.

The organisation argues that the freedom to propagate a religion does not give a person the right to convert and the law does not prohibit voluntary conversion based on free thinking.

The tenure of the commission examining Scheduled Caste status for 'converts' has been extended.

The Centre has extended by six months the tenure of the inquiry commission constituted to examine whether Scheduled Caste status should be granted to persons who claim Scheduled Caste identity but have adopted religions which do not fall under the Scheduled Caste category under the Presidential orders.

The extension, notified by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, will allow the Commission to continue its work till April 10, 2026, according to a gazette notification issued on Thursday.

The commission was constituted on October 6, 2022, under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, to study the claims of Scheduled Caste identity among persons who have converted to religions other than Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism.

The Commission was initially scheduled to submit its report by October 10, 2024, but upon request for more time, its term was extended by one year to October 10, 2025. The Commission has now sought additional time to finalize its findings and recommendations.