A confidential complaint about a change in the behavior of a young employee at TCS Nashik BPO triggered a secret police investigation.

New Delhi: Supreme Court lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay on Thursday filed a petition seeking to declare forced religious conversion a “terrorist act”.The petition comes in the backdrop of allegations of religious conversion and sexual harassment at the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) office in Nashik, Maharashtra.Read this also TCS Nashik case suspicious: Police say accused acted like organized gang to target female colleaguesUpadhyay argued that “fraudulent religious conversion” is a serious threat not only to sovereignty, secularism, democracy and freedom, but also to brotherhood, dignity, unity and national unity.“The organized religious conversion in Nashik has shocked the conscience of the citizens across the country. Therefore, the petitioner is filing this application seeking directions and declaration to stop the fraudulent religious conversion,” the plea said.It said, “Conversion by force or fraud is not an isolated religious act but a systematic conspiracy, often funded by foreign entities, to alter the demographic balance and thereby threaten the unity, integrity and security of India. Thus, it falls within the ambit of the terrorist act as defined under Section 15 of the UAPA.”Also read: TCS Nashik office employees asked to work from home amid claims of religious conversion, harassmentUpadhyay also sought directions to the central and state governments to set up special courts to deal with cases related to religious conversion.The petition said that Article 25 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practice and propagate religion, but this is subject to public order, health and morality.It argued that although all persons have the right to profess, practice and propagate religion, the freedom is not absolute and is subject to constitutional conditions, including public order, morality and health.Also read: Infosys issues statement on Pune harassment allegations; Investigation increased after Nashik TCS caseThe petition emphasized that freedom to practice one’s religion does not confer an unrestricted right to practice in its name, but is subject to reasonable limits.

Filed as part of Upadhyay’s pending petition seeking strict action against fraudulent religious conversions, the application reiterates the need for stronger legal safeguards.He said that religious conversion is a serious issue which should not be politicized. supreme court of india In 2023, assistance was sought from Attorney General R Venkataramani, the Centre’s chief legal advisor, on the matter.(With PTI inputs)