After UP and Madhya Pradesh, now the Gujarat government has also implemented the Love Jihad Act. On 1 April, the Gujarat government passed the Gujarat Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2021 with a majority. After which it has been implemented from June 15.
Considering forcible conversion as a big crime in this law, there is a provision of punishment. According to the law, marriage after forced conversion can lead to imprisonment of 4 to 7 years. Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat had approved this law in May. In this way, Gujarat has become the third state after UP and Madhya Pradesh to make laws on love jihad. There is also a provision of punishment in the provision of the law for those people who will be found indulging in forced conversion.
- Marriage only for the purpose of conversion or conversion only for the purpose of marriage will be considered illegal in the Family Court.
- No one will be allowed to convert, directly or indirectly, forcibly or by cheating and if any person becomes a helper in forced conversion, then the law will also apply to him.
- Whoever has committed an offence, who has helped or advised the commission of the offence, shall also be entitled to equal punishment.
- If convicted as a punishment, there is a provision for imprisonment of 3 to 5 years and a fine of not less than Rs 2 lakh. If she is a minor or a girl belonging to SC-ST category, the punishment will be 7 years and the fine will be 3 lakh.
A provision has also been made in the law that the offense of the guilty will be non-bailable and it will not be investigated by an officer below the level of SP. Along with this, the law will also keep a close watch on the institutions, if any institution does not comply with this law, then in addition to the punishment of 3 to 10 years and a fine of 5 lakhs, the government financial assistance will also be stopped.