Love Jihad bill passed in UP assembly, if found guilty, punishment up to life imprisonment will be given
The Love Jihad (Amendment) Bill 2024 was passed in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday. While the punishment for the already defined crimes has been doubled, new crimes have also been included in which there is a provision of life imprisonment. Funding for religious conversion has also been brought under the ambit of crime under this law. This also includes funding from foreign institutions or any illegal institution. If anyone pressurizes, attacks, uses force or promises to marry or conspires for marriage with the intention of converting a person, then he will have to pay a fine along with life imprisonment.
That’s why the provision of punishment was increased
According to this bill, the court will be able to fix a fair amount as a fine for the cost of treatment and rehabilitation of the victim. The government says that to stop the sensitivity of the crime, dignity and social status of women, illegal conversion of women, SC-ST etc., it was felt that the punishment and fine need to be made more stringent. Therefore, this amendment bill was introduced.
How much has the punishment increased
The accused can now get a sentence of 3-10 years for converting religion by luring. While a fine of 25 thousand rupees will also have to be paid. Earlier, there was a provision of 1-5 years of imprisonment and a fine of 15 thousand rupees. Now, if a crime is committed against a minor, SC-ST woman, the punishment will be 5-14 years in jail and a fine of up to one lakh. Earlier, there was a provision of 2-10 years of punishment and a fine of 25 thousand rupees. The accused can get a sentence of 7-14 years in jail and a fine of one lakh rupees from the court for illegal mass conversion. Earlier, the provision of punishment was 3-10 years of imprisonment and a fine of fifty thousand rupees.
These crimes included in the amendment
Many new crimes have also been included in the bill amendment. For converting a handicapped or a mentally challenged person by luring them, the punishment will be 5-14 years in jail and a fine of one lakh rupees. There is a provision of 7-14 years of jail and a fine of ten lakh rupees for foreign funding for illegal conversion. Those involved in human trafficking for illegal religious conversion can be punished with imprisonment ranging from twenty-five years to life imprisonment.
