The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on March 16, 2026, passed the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill 2026, aimed at curbing religious conversions carried out through fraud, coercion, inducement, or marriage-related deception.
Presenting the Bill, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, stated that the legislation is not targeted at any specific religion but is intended to prevent unlawful conversions. He emphasized that the law does not infringe upon the constitutional right to practice religion under Article 25 of the Constitution of India, but clarified that this right does not extend to converting others through coercion or deceit.
According to the state government, the provisions of the Bill apply uniformly across all religions and are designed to ensure that any religious conversion is voluntary and transparent. Complaints regarding alleged unlawful conversions may be filed by the affected individual or their close relatives, following which authorities can initiate legal action.
Key Provisions and Penalties
The Bill defines illegal conversion as any conversion carried out through force, threat, fraud, misrepresentation, allurement, or inducement. It also includes conversions linked to marriage conducted with the intent to change a person’s religion through deception.
While voluntary conversions are permitted, violations of the law will attract stringent penalties. For general offences, the Bill prescribes imprisonment ranging from three to five years along with a fine between ₹50,000 and ₹1 lakh.
In cases where the victim is a woman, minor, or belongs to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, the punishment may extend up to seven years of imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹2 lakh.
Mass conversions involving multiple individuals could lead to imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines reaching ₹5 lakh.
Significantly, the Bill places the burden of proof on the accused, requiring them to demonstrate that the conversion was not carried out through unlawful means.
Procedural Requirements
Under the proposed framework, individuals intending to convert must inform the District Magistrate in advance. Religious functionaries or organisations facilitating the conversion are also required to provide a 30-day prior notice. Additionally, a post-conversion declaration must be submitted to authorities.
The legislation further includes a marriage clause, declaring any marriage conducted solely for the purpose of religious conversion as invalid. Concealment of identity or intent in such cases will be treated as a punishable offence.
Political Reactions
The Bill received support from Shiv Sena (UBT), while opposition parties including the Indian National Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), and Samajwadi Party opposed it.
Commenting on the legislation, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said that action should be taken against those who use threats to force conversions. He expressed conditional support for the Bill while also calling for legal measures against coercion by investigative agencies.
The Bill is expected to be tabled next in the Maharashtra Legislative Council for further consideration.
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