'Arbitrary Legal Sanction To Pervasive State Intrusion Into Private Lives': NFIW Challenges Anti-Religious Conversion Laws Of Eight States In SC

The National Federation of Indian Women has moved the Supreme Court challenging eight state legislations regulating religious conversions, i.e. It is contended that such classification has a disproportionate impact on women and their right to autonomy and provide "arbitrary legal sanction to pervasive State intrusion into the private lives and decisions of people, in a complete breach of the right to privacy and human dignity." It further alleges that these statutes have lead to "bullying, harassment and violence" against inter-faith couples at the instance of relatives or vigilante groups It adds, "Insofar as they permit, legitimise and provide legal sanction to unwarranted interference, by family members or community vigilantes, into intimate and personal life choices, such as one’s choice of religion or marital partner, are constitutionally untenable and ought to be set aside." Such notions when reinforced by statutes promote gender stereotypes that are prejudicial.The impugned laws deny women agency by subjecting their marriage and/or conversion to legal scrutiny on the whim and fancy of her relatives and parents, even if the concerned adult woman has no complaint against the marriage and/or conversion."