India, Oct. 26 -- The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses from the Union and Chhattisgarh governments in a petition challenging the constitutional validity of Chhattisgarh's anti-conversion law, directing that it be heard along with pending matters challenging similar laws passed in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

In March, the Chhattisgarh assembly passed the law to prevent religious conversions carried out through force, inducement, fraud or misrepresentation. It provides for life imprisonment in cases of mass conversion.

Chhattisgarh's anti-conversion law was the latest in a series of such legislation, which civil rights groups say violates an individual's rights. They are seen as an attempt to curb interfaith marriages.

A bench o...