'Love Jihad' Not Defined Under Laws, No Case Reported By Central Agencies: Government

The Narendra Modi government on Tuesday informed Parliament that the term 'Love Jihad' – often used by BJP leaders - is not defined under the extant laws and no case of so called 'Love Jihad' has been reported by any of the central agencies. Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said that the Article 25 of the Constitution provides for the freedom to profess, practice and propagate religion subject to public order, morality and health. Various courts, including the Kerala High Court, have upheld this view.

"The term 'Love Jihad' is not defined under the extant laws. No such case of 'Love Jihad' has been reported by any of the central agencies," he said in reply to a written question.

The minister, however, said two cases from Kerala involving inter-faith marriage have been probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The minister was referring to the case of Akhila Ashokan popularly known as Hadiya, a 24-year-old woman from Kerala who converted to Islam to marry a Muslim man.

Her marriage was annulled by the Kerala High Court but the Supreme Court in March 2018 overruled the High Court's judgment and allowed Hadiya to live with her husband. The case was termed as 'Love Jihad' and NIA had probed the terror angle. 

The Kerala High Court had given the judgment on a plea by Hadiya father, who had alleged that his daughter was brainwashed and forced to convert to Islam as a victim of 'Love Jihad'. She, however, maintained that she embraced the religion of Islam on her free will.