MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government on Friday introduced a bill with strict provisions to prevent religious conversion through coercion, fraud or marriages involving inducement, coercion or deception, joining other BJP-ruled states in enacting “religious freedom” laws. The Freedom of Religion Bill 2026, tabled for debate in the Legislative Assembly, provides that a person who “illegally converts to a religion on the pretext of marriage” can be jailed for seven years and fined Rs 1 lakh. The bill treats the offense as non-bailable and therefore compels the police station officer-in-charge to lodge a complaint. Civil society groups have objected, saying the law is being weaponized to create a climate of fear around interfaith marriages. The bill says any child born out of a marriage or a “relation of a marital nature” arising out of an unlawful conversion shall “be deemed to belong to the religion of the mother prior to such marriage or relationship.”
It requires that anyone intending to convert, as well as any person or institution organizing a conversion ceremony, must give at least 60 days’ advance notice in a prescribed form to the competent authorities. Upon receipt of this information, the authorities will publish the details on the notice boards of their offices as well as the offices of panchayat or local authorities concerned. Public comments will be solicited within 30 days from the date of publication. The bill requires converts and the person or institution organizing the ceremony to submit a declaration to the authorities within 21 days of conversion. It allows relatives by blood, marriage or adoption to file an FIR if they suspect illegal conversion. The bill also provides that those who “participate” in mass conversions can be jailed for seven years and fined Rs 5 lakh. Repeat offenders may be jailed for 10 years and fined Rs 5 lakh. Temptations that may be considered illegal include gifts, employment, education, a better lifestyle, or divine healing. The person who caused, aided or abetted the conversion had the onus to prove that the conversion did not contravene the provisions of the Act. The bill has been called draconian by critics, who say “forced” and “involuntary” religious conversions are increasing in the state. “The right to freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution of India is not absolute but is subject to public order, morals, health and other provisions of Part III of the Constitution relating to fundamental rights of citizens,” the bill said. Dolphy D’Souza of the Mumbai Catholic Congress said: “We are extremely disappointed that the bill has been brought without discussion with the various stakeholders who will be affected. It takes away a person’s right of conscience to follow a religion of one’s choice or marry a partner of one’s choice. We urge the opposition to speak out and demand that it be referred to a special committee for discussion as some of its provisions are very harsh, to say the least.“ HCs from Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Congress have filed legal challenges against the anti-conversion laws filed by civil rights groups like Citizens for Justice and Peace. Parts of those laws have been put on hold and states have taken them to the Supreme Court.
