Hindus must seek permission to convert; Gujarat government notification 'clarifies' Buddhism separate religion

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government in a notification has held that Buddhism must be treated as a "separate religion" and Hindus seeking to convert to Buddhism, Jainism, or Sikhism will have to take prior permission from the district magistrates, as prescribed under Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, 2003.

The notification titled "Regarding permission of conversion from Hinduism to Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism", says that it has come to notice of the government that while granting permission of conversion to Buddhism from Hinduism rules were not being followed.

"Further, in many instances the applicants and autonomous institutions are making representations that for converting to Buddhism from Hinduism prior permission is not required," the notification cites this as one of the reasons behind the clarification.

The notification in Gujarati mentions that in cases where applications are filed for prior approval, concerned offices are disposing of them citing Article 25 (2) of the Constitution that Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism are included in Hinduism and therefore, prior permission for such conversion are not required.

It warns that "in sensitive cases such as religious conversion" replying without understanding suitable provisions of law can result in litigations. Referring to Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, 2003, the notification says that "Buddhism will have to be considered a separate religion."

Citing aforementioned reasons, the notification has stated that under Gujarat Freedom of Religious Act, "Buddhism will be considered as a separate religion." It further says that under section 5 (1) and 5 (2) of the act, Hindus converting to Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism will have to take prior permission in the prescribed format.

"The clause related to prior permission was already there in the act (Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act) but it was not followed. The district collectors were interpreting it differently and that way the notification is a clarification that one has to seek permission for conversion. This is what we have been saying all along that Buddhism is a separate religion," said Milind Priyadarshi, ex-president of Gujarat Buddhist Academy, an organisation which holds mass conversion events regularly in the state.   

Priyadarshi said that every year around Ashoka Vijaya Dashami, the organisation holds mass conversion events where Hindus from Scheduled Caste (SC) convert to Buddhism.

Citing a constitutional amendment in 1990, he said that benefits of SC after converting to Buddhism remain the same and they are entitled to all the benefits.