Laws passed by States must be cleared by Central ministries before President’s nod
The ordinance on unlawful religious conversions, promulgated by the Uttar Pradesh government last year, has not been sent to the Centre for examination, according to a reply from the Union Home Ministry to a query under the Right to Information Act (RTI).
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) examines bills passed by State assemblies that are repugnant with Central laws before they get the President’s assent to become a law.
A similar legislation passed by the Rajasthan Assembly in 2008 under BJP government then, is still pending with the MHA and is yet to receive the President’s nod as the MHA found that it deviated from national policy and sought clarification from the State government.
Article 213 of the Constitution under which U.P. Governor Anandiben Patel promulgated the ordinance says the Governor shall not, without instructions from the President, promulgate any such ordinance if a bill…