Company : Sol Infotech Pvt. Ltd. Website : www.courtkutchehry.com Orissa Freedom Of Religion Rules, 1989 CONTENTS 1. Short Title 2. Definitions 3. List Of Religious Institutions And Organisations 4. Declaration Before Conversion 5. Intimation Of Ceremony 6. The District Magistrate To Issue Acknowledgement Receipt 7. Register Of Conversion 8. Penalty 9. Submission Of Report To Government Orissa Freedom Of Religion Rules, 1989 In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 7 of the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, 1967 (Orissa Act 2 of 1968), the State Government of Orissa, do hereby make the following rules, namely:- 1. Short Title :- (1) These rules may be called the Orissa Freedom of Religion Rules, 1989. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. Definitions :- (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Act" means Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, 1967 (Orissa Act 2 of 1968); (b) "Organisation" means a body of persons authorised by religious institutions who expound spiritual thoughts of different religions inside and outside the country; (c) "Form" means form appended to these rules; (d) "Government" means Government of Orissa; (e) "Religious institutions" mean different religious authorities, who expound religious thoughts in the country and abroad; (f) "State" means State of Orissa. (2) All other words and expressions used but not defined in these rules shall have the same meaning as is respectively assigned in the Act. 3. List Of Religious Institutions And Organisations :- ( i ) Each District Magistrate shall maintain a list of religious institutions or organisations propagating religious faith in his district and that of persons directly or indirectly engaged for propagation of religious faith in the district. (ii) The District Magistrate, if he thinks fit, may call for a list of persons with the religious faith, receiving benefits either in case or in kind from the religious organisations or institutions or from any person connected therewith. 4. Declaration Before Conversion :- Any person intending to convert his religion, shall give a declaration before a Magistrate, 1st Class, having jurisdiction prior to such conversion that he intends to convert his religion on his own will. 5. Intimation Of Ceremony :- (1) The concerned religious priest shall intimate the date, time and place of the ceremony in which conversion shall be made along with the names and addresses of the persons to be converted to the concerned District Magistrate before fifteen days of the said ceremony. (2) The intimation shall be in Form A and shall be delivered either personally by the priest, to the concerned District Magistrate or be sent to him by registered post with acknowledgment due. (3) On receiving the intimation under sub-rule (2), the District Magistrate shall inform the concerned Superintendent of Police in detail who shall pass on the information to the concerned Police Station and the Officer-in-charge of the Police Station shall ascertain objection, if any, to the proposed conversion by local inquiry and intimate the same to the District Magistrate. 6. The District Magistrate To Issue Acknowledgement Receipt :- The District Magistrate on receiving the intimation from the priest shall sign thereon stating the date on which and the hour at which the intimation has been delivered to him or received by him and shall forthwith acknowledge the receipt thereof in Form B. 7. Register Of Conversion :- The District Magistrate shall, maintain a register of conversion in Form C and shall enter herein particulars of the intimation received by him. 8. Penalty :- Any person who contravenes the provisions of rule 5 or 6 shall be liable to a fine of rupees one thousand. 9. Submission Of Report To Government :- The District Magistrate shall by the 10th of each month send to the State Government a report of intimations received by him during the preceding month in Form D.