The Madras High Court on Monday issued notice to the Tamil Nadu government on a petition by a Christian missionary challenging the recently promulgated anti-conversion ordinance on the ground that it violated Freedom of Religion as guaranteed under the Constitution.
Admitting the petition of 70-year-old Pastor Thangaraj seeking that the ordinance be declared null and void and unconstitutional, a Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice B Subhashan Reddy and Justice C Nagappan, issued notice to the state returnable in two weeks.
The petitioner, residing in Thiruvalluvar District, contended that the impugned October 5 "Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religion" ordinance was detrimental to the social fabric of the nation and would go against the uplift of socially, educationally and economically deprived and oppressed communities.
The "ill-conceived" law would be a tool in the hands of Hindu fundamentalists, bureaucrats and politicians to prevent voluntary conversions, he alleged and said its enforcement would create fear in the minds of the minority communities and disturb public tranquillity.
He described the allegations that force or fraudulent means were being applied to convert persons from one religion to another as false, imaginary and unreasonable.
He also sought a stay on implementation of the ordinance till disposal of his petition.