Hindus must seek permission to convert to Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism: Gujarat govt

PTC News Desk: The Gujarat government issued a circular earlier this week recognising Buddhism as a distinct religion. Under the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act of 2003, the state government announced that conversions from Hinduism to Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism will now require prior approval from respective district magistrates.

This directive, issued by the state home department on April 8, seeks to address concerns about the handling of conversion applications.

The circular highlighted discrepancies in district magistrate offices' interpretations of the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, emphasising the importance of following prescribed procedures for conversion applications. It acknowledged cases in which applicants and autonomous bodies contested the requirement for prior permission for conversions from Hinduism to Buddhism.

The circular warned against potential legal challenges arising from a lack of understanding of the legal provisions governing religious conversions. It emphasised the importance of district magistrates conducting a thorough examination of the legal framework when evaluating conversion applications.

”We’ve observed a lapse in adhering to the prescribed procedure for applications seeking permission for Hinduism to Buddhism conversions. Furthermore, we’ve received feedback from applicants and autonomous bodies suggesting that prior permission is unnecessary for such religious conversions,” the notification read.

Additionally, individuals undergoing conversion are required to notify the district magistrate.

District magistrates have been instructed to carefully examine conversion applications in accordance with legal provisions and state government directives. This move aims to streamline and ensure consistency in the handling of religious conversion applications across Gujarat.

- With inputs from agencies

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