The Gujarat government has issued a circular on April 8, declaring that Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism are distinct from Hinduism. In this circular, the government has instructed Hindus who wish to convert to any of these three religions to seek permission from the district magistrate under the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, 2003.
The circular, issued by the Gujarat Home department and signed by Deputy Secretary Vijay Badheka, comes in response to the observation that applications for conversion to Buddhism were not being handled according to regulations. It's notable that many Dalit Hindus in Gujarat convert to Buddhism through mass events annually.
The Home Ministry pointed out that district magistrate offices were inconsistently interpreting the Gujarat Religion Act. The circular highlighted instances where applications for conversion from Hinduism to Buddhism were not following proper procedures. Additionally, it noted that some offices were dismissing applications, citing Article 25(2) of the Constitution, which includes Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism within Hinduism.
Warning against hasty decisions on sensitive matters like religious conversion, the circular emphasized the risk of legal disputes. It stressed the importance of a thorough understanding of legal provisions before responding to such requests.
Under the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, 2003, the circular mandates that individuals seeking to convert from Hinduism to Buddhism, Sikhism, or Jainism must obtain prior permission from the district magistrate using a specified format.
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