The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Act, 2024

(1) This Act may be called the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Act, 2024. (2) It shall extend to the whole of Uttar Pradesh. (3) It shall come into force from the date of its publication in the Gazette.

In the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, (hereinafter referred to as the "principal Act"), for section 4, the following section shall be substituted, namely:- "4. An information relating to the contravention of the provisions of the Act may be given by any person and the manner of giving such information shall be the same as given in Chapter XIII of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Act no. 46 of 2023)."

For section 5 of the principal Act, the following section shall be substituted, namely:- "5(1) Whoever contravenes the provisions of section 3, shall, without prejudice to any civil liability, be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine which shall not be less than Rs. 50,000: Provided that whoever contravenes the provisions of section 3 in respect of a minor, a disabled or mentally challenged person, a woman or a person belonging to the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than five years but which may extend to fourteen years and shall also be liable to fine which shall not be less than Rs. 1,00,000: Provided further that whoever contravenes the provisions of section 3 in respect of mass conversion of religion shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may extend to fourteen years and shall also be liable to fine which shall not be less than Rs. 1,00,000. (2) Whoever receives money from any foreign or illegal institutions in connection with unlawful religious conversion shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may extend to fourteen years and shall also be liable to fine which shall not be less than Rs. 10,00,000. (3) Whoever, with the intent to convert, puts any person in fear of his life or property, assaults or uses force or marries or promises to marry or induces or conspires for the same, or traffics a minor, a woman or a person by enticing them or otherwise selling them, or abets, attempts or conspires in this behalf, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than twenty years but which may extend to imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person's natural life, and shall also be liable to fine: Provided that such fine shall be just and reasonable to meet the medical expenses and rehabilitation of the victim: Provided further that any fine imposed under this section shall be paid to the victim. (4) The Court shall also approve appropriate compensation payable by the accused to the victim of the said conversion, which may extend to Rs. 5,00,000, in addition to the fine. (5) Whoever, having previously been convicted of an offence under this Act, is again convicted of an offence punishable under this Act, shall, for every such subsequent offence, be liable to a punishment not exceeding twice the punishment provided in that behalf under this Act."

For section 7 of the principal Act, the following section shall be substituted, namely:- "7(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Act no. 46 of 2023), all offences under this Act shall be cognizable and non-bailable and triable by the Court of Sessions. (2) No person accused of any offence punishable under this Act, if in custody, shall be released on bail, unless,- (a) the Public Prosecutor has been given an opportunity to oppose the bail application for such release; and (b) where the Public Prosecutor opposes the bail application, the Court of Sessions is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that he is not guilty of such offence and that he is not likely to commit any offence while on bail."