CJI Khanna Lists Anti-Conversion Law Petitions for Hearing Next Week

New Delhi, May 2, 2025 — Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Wednesday, May 1, scheduled a batch of petitions challenging anti-conversion laws for detailed hearing in the week starting May 13, 2025 — a date that coincides with the final day of his tenure. The Supreme Court bench comprising CJI Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar took the decision following a request by BJP leader and advocate Ashwini Upadhyay for urgent consideration of the issue.

During a brief exchange in court, Advocate Upadhyay passionately urged the bench to urgently address his Public Interest Litigation (PIL), alleging widespread illegal religious conversions and advocating for the enforcement of anti-conversion statutes enacted by various states. “Religious conversion is akin to waging a war. Every day, 10,000 Hindus are being converted,” Upadhyay claimed, urging immediate judicial intervention.

However, the bench refused to entertain any arguments before hearing all parties involved. “Why are you arguing? Have we heard the other side? We must hear them first,” remarked Chief Justice Khanna, underscoring the court's commitment to a thorough and balanced hearing.

The petitions under consideration challenge anti-conversion laws passed by several states, including the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2019; Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Ordinance, 2020; Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance, 2020; and the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act. These laws aim to curb conversions through force, fraud, or inducement.

However, critics argue that authorities are selectively enforcing the laws to target minority communities, particularly Muslims, in violation of the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom. In 2021, the Supreme Court allowed the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind to join the proceedings, acknowledging their concerns about discriminatory implementation.

The decision to schedule the hearing in the final week of CJI Khanna’s tenure has sparked interest in legal circles, raising questions over whether the outgoing Chief Justice will have sufficient time to hear the matter in depth or issue any preliminary observations before retiring. Justice BR Gavai is expected to assume charge as the next Chief Justice of India on May 14.

Source: Law Trend