New Delhi:The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed an Islamic organisation Jamiat-Ulama-I-Hind to become a party to petition pertaining to anti-conversion laws passed by Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The decision comes as a petition was pending, challenging the controversial state laws regulating conversions due to inter-faith marriages.
Senior Advocate Ejaz Maqbool, appearing for the organisation, submitted before the court today that a large number of Muslims are being harassed all across the country. Maqbool said that the organisation wants to get impleaded in the cases pending before the top court.
The bench comprising of CJI SA Bobde, Justice AS Bopanna and Justice V Ramasubramanian was hearing petitions filed by Vishal Thakre and Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) challenging the laws.
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CJP was also directed by the court to include Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act,2019 and Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Ordinance,2020, along with the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion ordinance and Uttrakhand law.
The petitioners have contended before the court that innocent people will suffer due to these laws in the hands of the administration even when nothing wrong has been done by them. Notice has already been issued on the petitions earlier by the CJI led bench and today CJI said that they will be hearing the case later.
