Supreme Court Plea Seeks Stricter Laws on Forced Conversions in TCS Case

A plea seeking stricter measures to curb unlawful religious conversions was filed in India's Supreme Court on Thursday, citing recent allegations of sexual harassment and coerced conversions at the Nashik office of Tata Consultancy Services.

The application, submitted by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay in a pending case titled In Re The Issue of Religious Conversion, argues that conversions achieved through force, fraud, coercion or inducement undermine constitutional principles. It calls on the central and state governments to enact tougher laws, establish special courts for such cases and impose consecutive sentences rather than concurrent ones for offenders. Upadhyay contends that Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practice and propagate religion, does not extend to converting others against their will. The provision is subject to restrictions based on public order, health and morality, the plea states, emphasizing that the right to propagate one's faith does not include a fundamental right to convert.

The filing draws directly from complaints by eight female employees at the TCS Nashik branch, who have accused...