Dear Sir,

What is the Legal Procedure for Religion Conversion in India?

Changing one’s religion to another does not govern by any law. Supreme Court has held in the plethora of cases that conversions do not need any particular legal requirements, formalities, religious rituals or ceremonies. In Perumal Nadar (dead) by Legal Representative v. Ponnuswami Nadar (minor)[7], it was held that no formal ceremony of purification or expiration is necessary to effectuate conversion.

Any person can convert his or her religion with good faith. A mere declaration whether oral or in writing does not amount to conversion. Credible evidence of the intention to convert followed by definite overt acts to give effect to that intention is necessary.[8] A bona fide intention accompanied by subsequent conducts unequivocally expressing that intention would be sufficient to reach the conclusion that genuine conversion takes place.

Once conversion of religion has taken place then it has to be notified in Government Gazette so that converted religion can be mentioned in all the legal documents too. In Kailash Sonkar vs. Smt. Maya Devi,[9] Supreme Court adopted the same approach for reconversion. In case if clergy wants to convert his religion, he can do so with the permission of the district magistrate. The absence of any statutory provision creates a legal vacuum which puts the burden on the Registration Officer to take a decision whether conversion took place is genuine or not.

Anybody who is interested in conversion of religion may do so by complying with the personal law of that religion. The various personal laws provide the rituals which need to be performed in a specified manner at the time of conversion.

Section 3 of the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, 2003 prohibits forcible conversion and states that “[n]o person shall convert or attempt to convert, either directly or otherwise, any person from one religion to another by use of force or by allurement or by any fraudulent means nor shall any person abet such conversion.”[

2)under section 5 of the Gujarat Act, a person wanting to convert must seek prior permission from the District Magistrate with respect to the conversion.

3) The section also requires the person who is converted to send a notice to the District Magistrate of the “[district] concerned in which the ceremony has taken place of the fact of such conversion within such period and in such form as may be prescribed by rules.”

4)  The Gujarat Freedom of Religion Rules 2008 stipulate that such a notice should be given “within ten days from the date of such conversion ceremony.”  Failure to comply with these permission or notice provisions is punishable by imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to 1,000 rupees, or both.

Different religions provides separate practice to convert religion. Self declaration shall be adoption of other religion belief but getting approval from that religion society, conversion shall be done by priest/quazi/pundit etc.   And certificate will provide with new name or at least surname. Later gazette will issue as certificate issued by priest/quazi/pundit has no legal sanctity until supported by gazette notification.

Religious practice is fundamental right, cannot be prohibited.

A lettwr ti the district magistrate should also be given. Reasons too as tge Gujarat govt. Has passed a law on religious conversion.

Regards 

1) priest or pandit have to take prior permission 

2) 

under section 5 of the Gujarat Act, a person wanting to convert must seek prior permission from the District Magistrate with respect to the conversion.

3) The section also requires the person who is converted to send a notice to the District Magistrate of the “[district] concerned in which the ceremony has taken place of the fact of such conversion within such period and in such form as may be prescribed by rules.”

Yes you need to follow the procedure as laid down in the Gujarat act by practising a new religion you need to inform the district magistrate in writing and you have to publish in the newspaper that you have abundaned the religion you have practiced earlier and now converted to that particular religion

Both have to take permission and fill up a form prescribed as one is getting converted and the other is converting him.

Quazi, Pandit,  priest or any third have to take permission, converted only need to inform.

There is no provisions in law across the country for any legal procedure to be adopted for one to change his religion.

Religion means a belief binding the spiritual nature of man to a supernatural being as involving a feeling of dependence and responsibility, together with the feelings and practices which naturally flow from such a belief.

Everyone should be left free to choose the religion of their choice.

For this, Indian Constitution provides the freedom to profess, practice and propagate any religion to all persons.

Religious conversion is one of the most heated issues in the society and politics which can be defined as the adoption of any other religion or of a set of beliefs by the exclusion of other i.e. renouncing one religion and adopting another. 

Changing one’s religion to another does not govern by any law. Supreme Court has held in the plethora of cases that conversions do not need any particular legal requirements, formalities, religious rituals or ceremonies. In Perumal Nadar (dead) by Legal Representative v. Ponnuswami Nadar (minor), it was held that no formal ceremony of purification or expiration is necessary to effectuate conversion.

Any person can convert his or her religion with good faith. A mere declaration whether oral or in writing does not amount to conversion. Credible evidence of the intention to convert followed by definite overt acts to give effect to that intention is necessary. A bona fide intention accompanied by subsequent conducts unequivocally expressing that intention would be sufficient to reach the conclusion that genuine conversion takes place.

Once conversion of religion has taken place then it has to be notified in Government Gazette so that converted religion can be mentioned in all the legal documents too. In Kailash Sonkar vs. Smt. Maya Devi, Supreme Court adopted the same approach for reconversion. In case if clergy wants to convert his religion, he can do so with the permission of the district magistrate. The absence of any statutory provision creates a legal vacuum which puts the burden on the Registration Officer to take a decision whether conversion took place is genuine or not.

Anybody who is interested in conversion of religion may do so by complying with the personal law of that religion. The various personal laws provide the rituals which need to be performed in a specified manner at the time of conversion.

In order to have that, a Religion Change affidavit has to be prepared mandatorily. The affidavit is a legal document that contains details like name, the new religion, old religion, and address. It must be made on stamp paper and notarized by a notary public.

the Indian law confers upon the citizen the right to practice and profess any religion. Hence, a citizen can change his religion whenever he wishes to

Freedom of religion in India is a fundamental right guaranteed by Article 15 and Article 25 of the Constitution of India, Every citizen of India has a right to practice and promote their religion peacefully, Means Citizen is free to Adopt any religion as per his wish, belief etc. A person can change his/her religion but it should be in good faith. This is the fundamental right of any citizen of India

In our country every citizen has the LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship. The Constitution not only guarantees freedom of religion & conscience.

But The Change of Religion has to be Notified, So that you can change it in all Out Legal documents etc. After Changing Religion as per the Customs, it need to be Notified in Government Gazette.

It says about prior permission which is before the same. And next is information to be given. You can challenge the said notification in writing petition if you so want