HomeNewsConversion to even Buddhism must be registered in Gujarat

Conversion to even Buddhism must be registered in Gujarat

The state's home department issued the circular on 8 April on observing that petitions seeking conversion to Buddhism were not being processed as per rules

While indigenous faiths like Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism are considered to be parts of the larger Hindu family by many, the Government of Gujarat thinks otherwise, perhaps disturbed by the anti-Hindu stance of Ambedkarite Buddhists these days. A state government circular says that Buddhism should be considered a separate religion and, hence, a case of conversion from Hinduism to Buddhism has to be recorded in the government register — according to a report in Dainik Jagran.

If anyone wishes to convert from Hinduism to Buddhism, Jainism or Sikhism, he or she must comply with the Gujarat Independence Act of 2003, the circular says.

Under the provisions of the said law, prior permission of the district magistrate concerned will be compulsory.

The state home department issued the circular on 8 April after it was observed that petitions seeking conversion to Buddhism were not being processed as per rules.

Signed by Deputy Secretary (Home) Vijay Badheka, the circular says it has been observed that the district magistrate’s offices are arbitrarily interpreting the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act. It has been observed further that proper procedure is not being followed in applications seeking permission to convert from Hinduism to Buddhism, the circular said.

Moreover, sometimes requests are received from applicants and autonomous bodies that prior permission is not required for conversion from Hinduism to Buddhism, the circular says.

The circular further states that in cases where applications for prior permission are filed, the relevant offices dispose of such applications and adds that Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism are, under Article 25(2) of the Constitution, included in the Hindu religion and, hence, the applicant is not required to seek permission for conversion.

The circular makes it mandatory to share this information with the district magistrate in the prescribed format. It is possible that replies given to petitioners on a sensitive subject like religious conversion without adequate study of the legal provisions may result in judicial litigation.

The circular notes: “With respect to the Gujarat Independence Act, Buddhism will be treated as a separate religion”.

According to the law, a person who is converting another person from Hinduism to Buddhism, Sikhism or Jainism must obtain prior permission from the district magistrate in the prescribed format. Also, the person converting religion will have to give information to the District Magistrate in the prescribed format.

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