Photo Courtesy: nenow
Itanagar: A government-appointed committee has submitted its final report on draft rules for the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act of 1978. This submission marks a significant milestone for the legislation, which has remained largely inactive for 48 years due to a lack of necessary enforcement procedures. The law aims to prevent religious conversions achieved through deception, coercion, or inducement.
The push for these regulations follows direct intervention from the Gauhati High Court, which ordered the state to formalize the rules. Chief Minister Pema Khandu confirmed the receipt of the report on X, formally thanking the committee led by retired Justice Brojendra Prasad Katakey. He also recognized the contributions of state ministers Mama Natung, Balo Raja, and Kento Jini in facilitating the work.
The committee finalized its recommendations after conducting widespread consultations with various stakeholders. The Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh expressed support for the development and requested an immediate notification of the rules. The group stated, "The organisation also indicated that it would continue to follow the process closely and pursue appropriate legal steps if required to ensure compliance with court directions." The government is now expected to accelerate the process of operationalizing the act following this report.
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