Bills to repeal anti-conversion law introduced

Two bills for repealing the controversial anti-conversion law and Tamil Nadu Essential Services Maintenance Act, enacted by the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnethra Kazhagam government, were introduced in the Tamil Nadu assembly on Monday without being opposed.

The bill was not opposed by the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnethra Kazhagam and Dalit Panthers of India members, who are in alliance with the AIADMK. The suspended AIADMK members were not present. The Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religion Ordinance was promulgated on October 5, 2002, prohibiting conversion from one religion to another by the use of force or by allurement or by fraudulent means.

This Ordinance was replaced by an Act later. However, the AIADMK government decided to repeal the law and an Ordinance for this was promulgated on May 18, 2004.

Although, AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa had decided that the Ordinance need not be replaced by an Act, the present government said the Ordinance has lapsed and so a Bill has been introduced in the current session.

The government said that Tamil Nadu Essential Services Maintenance Act would be repealed as "...its provisions are draconian in character". It said that the law was used to dismiss 1,70,000 government servants in 2003 and it would be repealed "to instill a sense of confidence, create a better understanding and congenial working atmosphere" in the offices.