NEW DELHI, April 16: A plea was filed in the Supreme Court on Thursday in the aftermath of allegations of religious conversion and sexual harassment at a multinational company (MNC) in Nashik seeking directions to control deceitful religious conversion.
It was filed in the backdrop of charges of sexual harassment and allegations of forced religious conversion levelled by eight female employees at TCS’ office in Nashik.
The petition filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay contended that deceitful religious conversion is not only a serious threat to sovereignty, secularism, democracy and liberty but also a menace to fraternity, dignity, unity and national integration.
The plea, filed through advocate Ashwani Dubey, has sought directions to the Centre and the state governments to take stringent steps to control religious conversion.
“The organised religious conversion in Nasik has shaken the conscience of citizens throughout the country.
Therefore, petitioner is filing this application for direction seeking certain directions and declarations to control deceitful religious conversion,” the plea said.
The petition contended that the offence of forced conversion, when undertaken as part of a systematic, organised and coercive campaign, falls within the ambit of a “terrorist act” as defined under Section 113 of the BNS.“Forceful/deceitful religious conversion is not an isolated religious act but a systematic conspiracy often funded by foreign entities to alter the demographic balance and thereby threaten the unity, integrity and security of India.
Due to this, it falls under the ambit of a terrorist act as defined under Section 15 by UAPA [Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967],” the plea said.It has also sought directions to the Centre and the states to establish special courts to deal with religious conversion cases and declare that the sentence for deceitful religious conversion shall be consecutive, not concurrent.
The petition stated that the Right to Freedom of Religion does not carry the right to convert others through fraud, force, coercion or cheating.Article 25 gives freedom of conscience, profession, practice and propagation of religion, subject to public order, health and morality, it said.
The petition has been filed by Upadhyay in his pending petition seeking direction to the Centre and the states to take tough steps to control fraudulent religious conversions.
7 ARRESTED
The investigation into alleged religious conversion and sexual harassment at a Nashik branch of an IT giant suggests that seven male accused operated like an organised gang to target female employees, a senior officer has said. Meanwhile, seven arrests made and the suspected mastermind Nida Khan still absconding. Investigators believe the case involves a larger nexus within the company, where individuals in positions of authority allegedly exploited and targeted young, financially vulnerable women employees. A high-level internal probe is underway, with a special committee recording statements, while over 120 employees have been asked to work from home. (PTI)
