NEW DELHI, INDIA, January 25, 2011: Severe criticism of its remarks over conversion has forced the Supreme Court to expunge its controversial observations on the subject of conversion. <\/p>\n
As reported by HPI on January 23, The Supreme Court on Friday held that conversion from one religion to another had no justification in ‘secular’ India as it amounted to interference in religious belief. Under pressure, it has now recanted its statements. <\/p>\n
The bench had observed: ‘It is undisputed that there is no justification for interfering in someone’s belief by way of use of force, provocation, conversion, incitement or upon flawed premise that one religion is better than the other.’ It has been changed to a general ‘There is no justification for interfering in someone’s religious belief by any means.’<\/p>\n
Other parts of the verdict, which are more specific to the case, were also changed. The passage ‘The intention [of the criminal] was to teach a lesson to Graham Staines about his religious activities, namely, converting poor tribals to Christianity.’ The bench has now completely purged these lines.<\/p>\n
Though it is rare for SC to expunge its remarks, it can do so under its inherent powers.<\/p>\n
[HPI note: This is a striking example of the influence of missionaries in India. The HPI team could not find any instance when the U.S. Supreme court recanted its own words within a few days.]<\/p>\n