By Muslim Mirror
In an April 8 circular, the Gujarat government delineated Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism as distinct from Hinduism, mandating Hindus desiring to convert to any of these three religions to seek permission from the relevant district magistrate under the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, 2003.
The circular, issued by the Gujarat Home department and signed by Deputy Secretary Vijay Badheka, was prompted by observed discrepancies in handling conversion applications to Buddhism, particularly by Dalit Hindus during mass conversion events in Gujarat.
It highlighted concerns regarding district magistrate offices’ varied interpretations of the state’s Religion Act, often neglecting prescribed procedures for conversions from Hinduism to Buddhism. Some offices, citing Article 25(2) of the Constitution, erroneously included Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism within Hinduism, thereby exempting applicants from requiring prior permission for conversion.
Emphasizing the potential legal complications arising from hasty decisions on religious conversion matters, the circular underscored the necessity of adhering to legal provisions, invoking the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act’s requirement for prior permission for conversions from Hinduism to Buddhism, Sikhism, or Jainism.
The move has been welcomed by the Gujarat Buddhist Academy (GBA), a prominent organisation that hosts conversion events in the state.