MUMBAI: Maharashtra govt on Friday introduced a bill with stringent provisions to prevent religious conversions through coercion, fraud, or marriage if it involves inducement, coercion or deceit, joining other BJP-governed states that have enacted ‘freedom of religion’ laws. The Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026, tabled in the legislative assembly for debate sets a prison term of seven years for persons “involved in unlawful conversions on the pretext of marriage” and a fine of Rs 1 lakh. Treating the offence as non-bailable, the bill makes it mandatory for an officer heading a police station to register a complaint. Civil society bodies have opposed it, saying laws are being weaponised to create a climate of fear against inter-faith marriages. The bill says any child born out of a marriage or a “relationship in the nature of a marriage” due to unlawful conversion shall be “deemed to belong to the religion of the mother before such marriage or relationship”.
It mandates that any person intending to convert, as well as any individual or institution organising a conversion ceremony, must give notice in a prescribed form at least 60 days in advance to the competent authority. Upon receiving this, the authority will display the details on the notice board of its office as well as at the office of the village panchayat or the local authority concerned. It will invite objections from the public within 30 days of its publication. The bill requires that the converted person and individual or institution organising the ceremony submit a declaration to the authority within 21 days after the conversion. It allows relatives by blood, marriage or adoption to lodge an FIR if they suspect unlawful conversion. The bill also prescribes a jail term of seven years along with a fine of Rs 5 lakh for those “involved” in mass conversions. Repeat individual offenders may get a jail sentence of 10 years and fine of Rs 5 lakh. Inducements that may be treated as illegal include gifts, employment, education, a better lifestyle or divine healing. The burden of proof that a conversion was not carried out in violation of the provisions of the Act will lie on the person who caused, assisted or abetted the conversion. The bill, described as draconian by critics, says “forceful” and “involuntary” religious conversions in the state are increasing. “The right to freedom of religion guaranteed under the Constitution of India is not absolute, but is su-bject to public order, morality, health and to other provisions of Part III of the Constitution relating to the fundamental ri-ghts of citizens,” says the bill. Dolphy D’Souza of The Bombay Catholic Sabha said, “We are very disappointed that the bill was tabled without discussions with various stakeholders who are going to be affected. It takes away the right to one’s conscience to follow the religion of their choice or marry a partner of their choice. We urge the opposition to raise their voices and also demand that it be referred to a select committee for discussion as some of the clauses are draconian, to say the least.“ Legal challenges against anti-conversion laws by civil rights groups such as Citizens for Justice and Peace have been taken up by HCs in Karnataka, UP, Uttarakhand and MP. Sections of these laws have been stayed and states have gone before SC.
