Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court has directed the Arunachal Pradesh government to finalise the draft rules under Section 8 of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978, within six months.
The directive by the division bench of Justice Kardak Ete and Justice Budi Habung sitting at Itanagar, was made while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) raising the issue that the state authorities have failed to frame the required rules as mandated under Section 8 of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978 (The Act), even after lapse of 45 years of its enactment.
The objective of the said Act reads: “An Act to provide for prohibition of conversion from one religious faith to any other religious faith by use of force or inducement or by fraudulent means and for matters connected therewith.”
Notably, Section 4 of the Act provides punishment of imprisonment to the extent of two years and fine up to Rs 10,000 to a person who converts or attempts to convert, either directly or otherwise, any person from one religious faith by the use of force or by inducement or by any fraudulent means or abets any such conversion.
Section 8 of the Act empowers the government to make rules for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the Act.
The state government had filed an affidavit stating that the draft rules have been submitted for further scrutiny and for obtaining vetting from the law department.
“Having considered the submissions of the learned Advocate General and having perused the affidavit and the Draft Rules, we are of the view that no useful propose would be served by keeping this public interest litigation pending as the framing of requisite rules as mandated under Section 8 of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978 is under process. Accordingly, this present petition is closed,” the court stated.
“However, we expect the concerned authorities to be mindful of their obligations and the draft rules would be finalised within a period of six months from today,” the court stated in its order on Monday.
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