Read Time: 03 minutes

The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to intervene in plea's challenging the Love Jihad Laws formulated by State of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand with regard to forceful religious conversions for purposes of marriage.

A bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, Justices AS Bopanna & V. Ramasubramaniun stated that since the issue is already pending before Allahabad High Court for consideration, it would not be appropriate to wade into the territory.

"We would like to know what the Allahabad High Court has to say about it," said CJI SA Bobde

While Senior Advocate Sanjay M. Parikh informed Court that there were illegal arrests being carried out in the states in line with the laws, CJI SA Bobde stated that the Court understands the gravity of the issue at hand and did not condone any alleged actions or inactions carried out.

The petitions which came up for hearing challenge the constitutional validity of the recently passed Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance 2020 and the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act, 2018.

The petitions have contended that provisions of the impugned Act and Ordinance are in violation of Article 21 of the Constitution in light of the alleged suppression of individual and personal liberties as they provide powers to the state to hinge upon the right to freedom of religion.

While arguing that the right to convert one's religion emanates from Article 25 of the Constitution, the petition avers that the impugned provisions impose unreasonable and discriminatory restrictions.

Other Petitions have been filed by Lawyers seeking that the laws made in the name of "love jihad" be declared null and void, arguing