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A Supreme Court lawyer has asked the top court to treat coercive religious conversions as a criminal act on par with terrorism, a legal move prompted by recent allegations at a Tata Consultancy Services office in Nashik that have reignited national debate. The petition seeks a formal reclassification and faster legal processes, arguing such conversions pose risks to public order and national cohesion.
What the petition demands
- Declare forced religious conversion a terrorist act under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, invoking Section 15 of the law.
- Direct central and state governments to set up special courts to hear cases related to alleged fraudulent or coerced conversions.
- Order measures to investigate and block alleged foreign funding that the petition says may finance organised conversion efforts.
- Seek clarifications on limits to the right to propagate religion under the Constitution, particularly Article 25.
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The filing, made to the Supreme Court on Thursday, frames certain conversions as coordinated and systematic campaigns rather than isolated personal acts. It describes them as potentially engineered to change local demographics and thereby undermine unity — a claim the petition attributes to organised networks and, in some instances, foreign support.
Legal rationale and constitutional context
The petitioner acknowledges that Article 25 guarantees freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practise and propagate religion, but stresses those rights are subject to safeguards such as public order, morality and health. The submission argues the freedom to promote a faith does not extend to deception, coercion or activity that threatens public safety.
| Issue | Claim in petition | Possible legal consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Classification | Coercive conversions amount to terrorism | Cases could be tried under the UAPA |
| Procedures | Need for fast-track, specialised courts | Quicker adjudication; altered evidentiary and bail landscape |
| Funding | Alleged foreign backing for conversion drives | Enhanced financial probes and restrictions |
Why this matters now
The petition follows allegations of religious conversion and sexual harassment at a TCS facility in Nashik, Maharashtra — an episode that prompted police inquiry and public scrutiny. The case has sharpened focus on workplace safety, minority protections and how laws should respond when religious liberty intersects with claims of coercion.
Legal experts say the request raises complex questions about balancing constitutional freedoms with state power: classifying conversions under anti-terror laws would bring far-reaching consequences for investigation powers, trial procedures and individual liberties. Courts must weigh those trade-offs carefully if they take up the petition.
Where the matter stands
The application was filed as part of a broader petition seeking stricter action against fraudulent conversions. The Supreme Court has previously examined the issue — in 2023 the bench sought the Attorney General’s assistance to explore the legal framework around conversions — and may decide whether to list this fresh plea for hearing.
At stake are legal definitions that affect citizens, workplaces and communities across India. Any shift in how the law treats alleged coercive conversions would reshape enforcement and could set precedents touching civil liberties, national security and social cohesion.
