Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Rules, 2017
No: -- Dated: Feb, 22 2018
Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Rules, 2017
No.-08/misc.(01)-53/2017—7295-- Ranchi, Dated-19.12.2017- In exercise of the powers conferred to sub section-8 of the Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Act, 2017 the Governor of the state of Jharkhand hereby makes the Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Rules, 2017, namely
1. Short title:- (1) These rules may be called the Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Rules, 2017.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the official Gazette.
2. Definitions:- (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,
(a) “Act” means the Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Act, 2017
(b)“Form” means form appended to these rules;
(c) “Government” means the Government of Jharkhand; and
(d) “State” means the State of Jharkhand.
(e) “Organization” means a body of persons authorized by religious institutions which expound spiritual thoughts of different religions and outside the country;
(f) “Religious Institutions” means different religious authorities, which expound religious thoughts in the country and abroad;
(g) “Investigation” shall have the same meaning as is defined under section 2 (h) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
(h) “Victim” means aggrieved person who has been forcibly converted from one religion/religious faith to another religion/religious faith by any allurement, force, fraud, under influence.
(2) All the words and expressions used but not defined in these rules shall have the same meaning as is respectively assigned in the Act.
3. Notice and prior permission before conversion:- (1) Whoever / religious priest, converts any person from one religion/religions faith to another shall give a notice to the District Magistrate of the District in which he is permanently resident, 15 days prior to such conversion, in Form A attached to the rule and obtain prior permission before conversion from District Magistrate of the District in which he is permanently resident.
(2) The District Magistrate shall cause all notices received under sub-rule (1) of rule 3 to be entered in a Register of Notices and get the matter enquired into by such agency as he may deem fit and record his findings as regards the particulars of notice given:
Provided that the person giving notice and any other person likely to be prejudicially affected shall be given adequate opportunity to associate himself with any such enquiry.
On receipt of the application made under sub-rule (1) in Form A, the District Magistrate shall put his signature thereon indicating the date and time of receipt of such application. An acknowledgement for the receipt of the application shall be given in Form B.
4. Information after conversion to District Magistrate:-The person converted from one religion/religions faith to another shall give intimation to the District Magistrate of the District in which the ceremony of conversion has taken place of the fact of such conversion within seven days of such conversion, in Form C attached to the rule.