Dear Friends,   

Thank you so much for your prayers for the legal team of advocates from CLA of India who represented the Evangelical Fellowship of India as petitioners in their challenge to the constitutionality of the anti-conversion law of Himachal Pradesh.

The High Court of Himachal Pradesh issued its ruling in the anti-conversion law case today.

As Sam Ericsson would have said, it was a case of good news and other news.   Here is the initial update from Robin David:

As you are aware, the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2006 and the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Rules, 2007 were challenged by Evangelical Fellowship of India by way of a Writ Petition in the Himachal Pradesh High Court at Shimla.

The Act and the Rules have been challenged on grounds that the same are in violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India such as -

• Right to freedom of religion ( Art. 25)
• Right to profess and propagate one's religion. (Art. 25)
• Right to equality. (Art. 14)
• Right to privacy. (Art. 21)

The High Court heard arguments at length and reserved judgment on July 16, 2012. The judgment has been pronounced today, August 30, 2012. As per the judgment, Section 4, Rule 3 and Rule 5 of the Act have been held to be bad in law and violative of the Constitution of India and consequently have been struck down. The said provisions made it compulsory for anyone intending to convert from one religion to another give prior notice to the District Magistrate of his/her intention to convert. The provision also empowered the District Magistrate to enquire into the matter.  

However, the other provisions of the Act however have been held to be legal and valid by the High Court.

We are thankful to God for his guidance and we request your continued support.

Christian Legal Association

Robin Ratnakar David

Read the full opinion here. 

Read coverage of the case from India here. 

Thank God for the efforts of Robin David, Tehmina Arora and Pramod Singh and the entire legal team.  Please continue to lift up the team in your prayers as they decide how to move forward in light of the court's ruling.    

Thanks again for your prayers.

May the Lord bless and keep you in His perfect. . .