Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act Being Considered to be Implemented in India

Chief Minister Pema Khandu Friday announced that his state is framing rules to implement the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, which prohibits religious conversion “by use of force or inducement or by fraudulent means” and has been dormant since it was passed in 1978.

Speaking at a programme organised by the Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh (IFCSAP) in Itanagar on Friday, Khandu said that the Act would play a significant role in “preserving Arunachal’s indigenous faith and cultures”.

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The Act was passed by the state Assembly and received the President’s assent in 1978 amid debates on the effects of missionary activities in foothill areas on the state’s tribes and “indigenous religions” of the region.

While the law was passed, the rules for its implementation have been dormant and a prickly issue. In fact, in 2018, Khandu even stated at an event organised by the Arunachal Pradesh Catholic Association that the government was considering the repeal of the Act. He had been reported as saying then that the law “could undermine secularism and is probably targeted towards Christians”.

In response to a petition filed by former IFCSAP general secretary Tambo Tamin against the state government for failing to frame the requisite rules for over 45 years after the enactment of the law, the Itanagar bench of the Gauhati High Court had in September directed the state to finalise draft rules for the Act within a period of six months from the order.

The 1978 Act defined “indigenous faith” as religions, beliefs, observances, customs, etc “as have been found sanctioned, approved, performed by the indigenous communities of Arunachal Pradesh from these communities have been known…” It includes in this definition Buddhism as practised among the Monpas, Membas, Sherdukpens, Khambas, Khamptis and Singphos in the state; nature worship, including the worship of Donyi-Polo among communities in the state; and Vaishnavism as practised by Noctes and Akas.

The Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act entails punishment of imprisonment for up to two years and a fine of up to Rs 10,000 for the offence of “converting or attempting to convert, either directly or otherwise… by the use of force or by inducement or by any fraudulent means…”

This news is sourced from Indian Express and is intended for informational purposes only.