Supreme Court to hear Batch of Petitions Challenging Anti-Conversion Laws in Mid-May

The Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar observed that the matter requires a detailed hearing.

CJI remarked, “I don’t think we will be able to hear it.” He added, “I have two options, either I mark it to another bench or list it after 13th.”

List it in the week commencing May 13, 2025," remarked CJI Khanna during the brief hearing.

Notably, CJI Khanna is scheduled to retire on May 13, the very day the Court intends to begin hearing the matter.

The laws under challenge include the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2019; the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Ordinance, 2020; the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020; and a similar enactment in Uttarakhand. These statutes aim to prohibit forced or fraudulent religious conversions, but have come under intense scrutiny over alleged misuse and infringement on individual freedoms.

Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, who has also filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) supporting the anti-conversion laws, sought to defend them in court on Wednesday.

Upadhyay claimed that mass religious conversions were occurring daily and described such acts as a form of societal subversion. "Conversion is waging war. Ten thousand Hindus are converted every day," Upadhyay contended before the Court.

However, the Bench was not inclined to hear his submissions at this stage, emphasizing the need to first consider the arguments of other petitioners challenging the laws.

"Why are you arguing? Have we heard the other side? We have to hear them first," CJI Khanna said.

The case will now be taken up in detail in the week commencing from May 13.

Case Title: Citizens for Justice and Peace v. State of Uttar Pradesh & Anr. & connected matters [W.P.(Crl.) No. 428/2020; Diary No. 27696/2020]