Maharashtra passes anti-conversion bill; MoS Bhoyar says law targets only forceful conversions

Nagpur: The Maharashtra legislature passed the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act 2026 in both houses, with Minister of State (Home) Pankaj Bhoyar presenting the bill in the Legislative Council on March 17 and describing it as a law the state long awaited.Bhoyar said, "The law and the bill that the people of Maharashtra were waiting for over many years are now being brought forward with the courage and resolve shown by the govt working under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis." He was categorical that the legislation targeted only coerced conversions, not the right to convert. "We are not infringing upon anyone's rights. Rather, the provision for such registration is being introduced to ensure whether a conversion has truly taken place voluntarily or not," he said.Explaining the constitutional basis, Bhoyar said, "Why are we bringing this anti-conversion law? We are doing so to prevent forced religious conversions." He added that while the Constitution guaranteed the right to profess, practise and propagate one's religion, that right was not absolute. "If the govt feels that someone is carrying out religious conversion through fraud, coercion or inducement, the Constitution also provides scope for the state govt to enact a law against it," he said.On children born of marriages premised on illegal conversion, Bhoyar said, "The child will be deemed to belong to the mother's original religion," adding that such children would retain full inheritance rights and that their custody would vest with the mother.The Act defines allurement, coercion, fraud, force, enticement, mass conversion and undue influence. Performing an illegal conversion, attempting to do so, assisting, aiding or instigating such a conversion is a punishable offence. Any conversion carried out in violation of the Act shall be declared void. Similarly, any marriage solemnised for the purpose of illegal conversion may be declared void by a court.The law mandates that any person or institution intending to carry out a conversion or organise a ceremony for it must give notice to the competent authority 60 days in advance. Within 21 days of the conversion, a declaration must be submitted to the education officer. Failure to do so renders the conversion void. Violation of the Act's provisions attracts seven years' imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh. Cases involving women, minors, mentally incapacitated persons, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes carry imprisonment of seven years and a fine of Rs 5 lakh. Violations related to mass conversion attract the same term with a separate five-year fine provision. Repeat offenders face 10 years and a fine of Rs 7 lakh. If the offence is committed by an institution, its registration shall be cancelled and the person in charge faces seven years and a Rs 5 lakh fine. The burden of proving that the law's provisions were not violated rests on the instigator. All offences are cognisable, non-bailable and triable by a sessions court. Investigation must be conducted by an officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police. Victims are entitled to maintenance, litigation expenses and rehabilitation assistance from the state govt.