The Supreme Court Tuesday refused to stay an order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court that had struck down the mandatory requirement, under the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, to make a declaration to the district magistrate during religious conversion.
Issuing notice on an appeal filed by the Madhya Pradesh government against the HC ruling, a division bench comprising justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar observed that “all conversions cannot be said to be illegal”.
Representing the state, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said there was “no prohibition against marriage or conversion. The district magistrate may only be intimated”.
The bench said if the state has any counter, such arguments may be presented on the next date of hearing. The appeal will come up for its next hearing on February 7.
