Uttar Pradesh became the first state in India to approve an ordinance against love jihad with the Yogi Adityanath cabinet giving its nod to an ‘Ordinance to Prevent Unlawful Religious Conversions’ that imposes a penalty of up to five years jail term and fine of Rs 15,000 for such offence.

Cabinet minister and UP government spokesperson Sidharth Nath Singh said that the state cabinet had given its approval to prevent unlawful religious conversions in the name of marriage.

The cabinet meeting was held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath

According to the new law, the inter-faith couples will have to give notice of two months before the marriage and the district magistrate’s permission will be required for the marriage. 

“Inter-religion marriage without permission will attract a jail term from six months to three years and a minimum cash fine of Rs 10,000,” the spokesman said.  

Concealing the original name and religion before marriage will attract 10 years of imprisonment.

The ordinance says that any violation of the law or conversion will attract one to five years of jail and a minimum fine of Rs 15,000. 

In the case of minor or Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe girl, the punishment will be between three and 10 years and a minimum fine of Rs 25,000.

In the case of mass conversations, the jail term would be three to 10 years with a minimum fine of Rs 50,000, the government spokesman said.

Singh told media persons that the new law had been framed to give justice to women in the state.

“In UP, there are at least 100 such incidents where women were forced to convert after their marriages as the husbands had concealed the original names,” he said.

The UP cabinet approved the ordinance a day after the Allahabad High Court ruled that the right to choose a life partner “irrespective of religion” was intrinsic to the right to life and personal liberty.