The Tamil Nadu government has defended the right of missionaries to spread their religion in the state, stating that such acts by themselves cannot be seen as illegal. The government made this statement in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court in response to a petition seeking to ban religious conversion by missionaries.
The affidavit filed by the Tamil Nadu government stated that the right to propagate one’s religion was guaranteed under the Constitution and that no coercion or inducement was involved in the act of spreading Christianity. The government also stated that there was no evidence to suggest that any illegal means were used by the missionaries to convert people to their religion.
The petition seeking to ban religious conversion by missionaries was filed by an organization called the Advocates Association for Democratic Rights. The organization had alleged that the missionaries were indulging in illegal activities to convert people to their religion and that such activities were a threat to the social fabric of the country.
The Tamil Nadu government, in its response, stated that the right to propagate religion was an integral part of the freedom of religion, which was guaranteed under the Constitution. The government also stated that the right to propagate religion was subject to reasonable restrictions and that the state had the right to regulate such activities to prevent any kind of illegal activity.
The government further stated that the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religion Act, 2002, was in place to prevent any kind of forced or fraudulent conversion of religion. The Act makes it a punishable offense to force or induce any person to convert to another religion. The government also stated that the Act was being effectively implemented in the state to prevent any kind of illegal conversion.
The Tamil Nadu government’s statement in defense of the right to propagate religion comes at a time when there have been growing concerns over religious conversions by missionaries in various parts of the country. Many organizations and political parties have called for a ban on religious conversion by missionaries, alleging that they are using illegal means to convert people to their religion.
In conclusion, the Tamil Nadu government’s affidavit filed in the Supreme Court in defense of the right to propagate religion is a significant statement on the issue of religious conversions by missionaries. The government’s statement that acts of missionaries to spread Christianity by themselves cannot be seen as illegal is likely to be welcomed by religious organizations and groups. However, the government’s assertion that the state has the right to regulate such activities to prevent any kind of illegal activity is likely to be scrutinized closely by all stakeholders in the state.
