The anti-conversion law enacted by the BJP government in Uttarakhand in 2018 has failed to secure a single conviction in court, according to official records. Since the law came into force, authorities have registered 62 cases under the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act. Courts have acquitted all accused who faced full trials.
Records accessed through multiple Right to Information applications show only five cases reached the stage of complete trial. Courts acquitted all accused after prosecutors failed to prove force, coercion, undue influence, or allurement. In at least seven cases, courts dismissed proceedings midway after complainants turned hostile or evidence collapsed.
Judicial orders across 13 districts highlight repeated evidentiary gaps. Judges cited contradictions between first information reports and later statements, lack of corroboration, and failure to follow statutory procedure. In several matters, courts noted consensual relationships between adults, which weakened allegations at the initial stage.
Most accused persons remain out on bail. Eleven secured bail from the Uttarakhand High Court and one from the Supreme Court. Courts denied bail in three cases, while hearings continue in others. In multiple rulings, judges observed absence of electronic evidence, missing magistrate statements, or inconsistencies with prior applications under the Special Marriage Act.
[Read more on Radiancenews.com]