Terming
forced religious conversion a "very serious" issue, the Supreme
Court on Monday asked the Centre to step in and make sincere efforts to
check the practice.
It also warned a "very difficult situation"
will emerge if forced religious conversions are not stopped.
A bench of Justices M R Shah and Hima Kohli asked
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to enumerate measures to curb the practice
through allurement.
"This is a very serious matter. Sincere efforts
are to be made by the Centre to stop forced conversions. Otherwise very
difficult situation will come. Tell us what action do you propose....You have
to step in.
"It is a very serious issue which affects
security of the nation and freedom of religion and conscience. Therefore, it is
better that Union of India may make their stand clear and file counter on what
further steps can be taken to curb such forced conversion," the bench
said.
The apex court was hearing a plea filed by advocate
Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay seeking direction to the Centre and states to take
stringent steps to control fraudulent religious conversion by
"intimidation, threatening, deceivingly luring through gifts and monetary
benefits".