Maharashtra Government has appointed a special committee to study the legal issues relating to ‘Love Jihad’ and forcible religious conversions, and make recommendations for a law accordingly. The panel has been appointed following the memorandums given by some elected representatives, various organisations, and citizens, states a Government Resolution (GR) issued on Friday. The said special committee will be headed by Director General of Police, Maharashtra. Joint/Deputy Secretary (Special Branch-1B) of Home Department will be the Member Secretary of the committee. Apart from these two, there will be five members in the committee. They will include Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) or Principal Secretary or Secretary of Woman and Child Development Department, ACS/Principal Secretary/Secretary of Minority Development Department, ACS/Principal Secretary/Secretary of Law and Judiciary Department, ACS/Principal Secretary/Secretary of Social Justice and Special Assistance Department, and Joint/Deputy Secretary (Law) of Home Department.

 

The GR issued with signature of Hemant Mahajan, Deputy Secretary of Home Department, states that the committee will study the legal dimensions relating to ‘Love Jihad’, religious conversions through coercion or allurement, suggesting measures to be taken in response to complaints received, examine the existing laws in other States and to make recommendations for a law accordingly. The committee will prepare a draft of the law to prevent ‘Love Jihad’ and religious conversions. However, no time limit has been stipulated for the committee to complete the given tasks.