ARUNACHAL
PRADESH FREEDOM OF RELIGION ACT, 1978 THE ARUNACHAL PRADESH FREEDOM OF RELIGION ACT, 1978 [Act No. 04 of 1978] [25th October, 1978] An Act to provide for prohibition of conversion from one religious
faith to any other religious faith by use of force or inducement or by
fraudulent means and for matters connected therewith. Be it enacted by the
Legislative Assembly of Arunachal Pradesh in the Twenty-ninth Year of the
Republic of India as follows:- (1)
This Act may be called the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion
Act, 1978. (2)
It extends to the whole of the Union Territory of Arunachal
Pradesh. (3)
It shall come into force at once. In this Act, unless the
context otherwise requires, -- (a)
"Government" means the Government of the Union Territory
of Arunachal Pradesh; (b)
'Conversion" means renouncing one religious faith and
adopting another religious faith, and "convert" shall be construed
accordingly; (c)
"Indigenous faith" means such religions, beliefs and
practices including rites rituals, festivals, observances, performances,
abstinence, customs as have been found sanctioned, approved, performed by the
indigenous communities of Arunachal Pradesh from the time these communities
have been known and includes Buddhism as prevalent among the Monpas, Membas,
Sberdukpens, Khambas, Khamptis and Singphos, Vaishnavism as practised by
Noctes, Akas and Nature worships, including worships of Donyi-Polo, as
prevalent among other indigenous communities of Arunachal Pradesh; (d)
"force'' shall include show of force or a threat of injury of
any kind including threat of divine displeasure or social ex-communication: (e)
"fraud" shall include the misrepresentation or any other
fraudulent contrivance; (f)
"inducement" shall include the offer of any gift or
gratification, either in cash or in kind and shall also include the grant of
any benefit, either pecuniary or otherwise; (g)
"prescribed" means prescribed under the rules; (h)
"religious faith" includes any indigenous faith. No person shall convert or
attempt to converts, either directly or otherwise, any person from one religious
faith to any other religious faith by the use of force or by inducement or by
any fraudulent means nor shall any person abet any such conversion. Any person contravening the
provisions contained in section 3. shall, without prejudice to any civil
liability, be punishable with imprisonment to the extent of two years and fine
upto ten thousand rupees, (1)
Whoever converts any person from one religious faith to any other
religious faith either by performing himself the ceremony necessary for such
conversion as a religious priest or by taking part directly or indirectly in
such ceremony shall within such period after the ceremony as may be prescribed,
send an intimation to the Deputy Commissioner of the District to which the
person converted belongs, of the fact of such conversion in such form as may be
prescribed. (2)
If any person fails without sufficient cause to comply with the
provisions contained in subsection (1) he shall be punished with imprisonment
which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to one thousand
rupees or with both. An offence under this Act
shall be cognizable and shall not be investigated by an officer below the rank
of an Inspector of Police No prosecution for an
offence under this Act shall be instituted except by or with the previous
sanction of the Deputy Commissioner or such other authority, not below the rank
of an Extra Assistant Commissioner as may be authorized by him in this behalf. The Government may make
rules for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act.
Preamble - ARUNACHAL PRADESH FREEDOM OF RELIGION ACT, 1978PREAMBLE