This message is in reply to message: 4, dated: Fri, 19 Dec 2008 from: Selma Carvalho on subject: The Right to Convert
My response: Selma, Right to convert is NOT a basic right in a civil society at least in India. This reply is based on following facts: Article 25(1) of Constitution of India guarantees ''freedom of conscience to every citizen, and not merely to the followers of one particular religion''. This Article postulates that there is no fundamental right to convert another person to one's own religion because if a person purposely undertakes the conversion of another person to his religion, that would impinge on the freedom of conscience guaranteed to all the citizens of the country alike. This means there is no such thing as a fundamental right to convert any person to one's own religion and the government can impose certain restrictions keeping in view public order. This is the interpretation of Supreme Court of Indian on Article 25(1) which was misunderstood as Right to Convert. You could also read a debate on this issue by clicking the link provided here below: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/debating-the-right-to-convert/369524/ Best regards, Dr. U. G. Barad
