What do the Petitions Say?
The law has been challenged by petitioners who say that it is a narrative spun to undermine principles of pluralism and diversity in the society. The petition also says that the laws discriminate against women and interfaith couples, taking away their agency and are, therefore, bad in law and substance.
The petitioners say that the law potentially suppresses an individual’s right to freedom of choice and right to freedom of religion and protection against discrimination.
They add that it violates Article 14 (Right to Equality), 15 (Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, etc), 21 (Right to life) and 25 (Freedom of conscience, etc) of the Constitution, according to Live Law.
Uttar Pradesh adopted an anti-conversion ordinance in November as an apparent solution to ‘love jihad‘, a right-wing conspiracy theory where Muslim men try to seduce Hindu women to have them convert their religion.
The move has been severely criticised. The term “’love…