Chhattisgarh conversion bill OK’d, imposes life in jail, Rs 25L fine

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha on Thursday passed an anti-conversion bill, mandating public disclosure of proposed religious conversions, verification by authorities, and stringent penalties — from life imprisonment for illegal mass conversions to a minimum 10-year jail term for unlawful conversion of minors, women, and members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.The bill was passed by voice vote in the absence of opposition, which walked out demanding that the legislation be referred to a select committee.The bill, called the Chhattisgarh Dharm Swatantraya Vidheyak, 2026 (Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026), was introduced by home minister Vijay Sharma. It seeks to prohibit religious conversions carried out through force, coercion, undue influence, allurement, misrepresentation, fraudulent means, or marriage, including through digital platforms such as social media and electronic communication.A key provision requires any individual intending to convert to submit a declaration in a prescribed format to a "competent authority" — the district magistrate or an officer authorised by the district magistrate, not below the rank of additional district magistrate. Within seven days of receiving the application, the authority would have to publish details of the proposed conversion on its official website and display notices at the offices of the tehsildar, gram panchayat, and the local police station, including the applicant's name, present religion, and proposed religion.The legislation empowers authorities to verify the authenticity of conversions, investigate complaints, and summon records. Objections could be filed within 30 days, after which an inquiry would be conducted and an order passed within a stipulated period. A conversion certificate would be issued after due process, but it would not serve as proof of identity or citizenship. Applications would lapse if the conversion was not carried out within 90 days of approval.The bill clarifies that reconversion to one's ancestral religion would not be treated as conversion, and in such cases, any certificate issued would be cancelled.On marriage, the bill states that marriage alone would not constitute religious conversion. However, conversion solely for the purpose of marriage, or not in accordance with the provisions of the law, will be deemed illegal. It mandates submission of a declaration 60 days prior to the proposed date of marriage, which will be made public. Authorities would examine whether such marriages involve illegal conversion.Those facilitating conversions — including priests, clerics, or any person performing the ceremony — must submit a declaration of intent to the competent authority. Individuals or organisations involved in conversions are also required to file annual reports within 60 days of the end of each financial year, detailing the number of conversions carried out, personal details of converts, and certified accounts of funds received from domestic and foreign sources.The bill empowers the state govt to withdraw or cancel financial assistance, grants, or infrastructure support extended to individuals or entities found violating the law. The bill also restricts acceptance of funds intended to facilitate unlawful conversions.All offences under the proposed law are classified as cognisable and non-bailable. "Mass conversion" is defined as conversion of two or more persons in a single event and attracts rigorous imprisonment of not less than 10 years, extendable to life imprisonment — defined as the remainder of the convict's natural life — along with a fine of not less than Rs 25 lakh.If the victim is a minor, a person of unsound mind, a woman, or belongs to Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, or Scheduled Tribes, the punishment ranges from 10 to 20 years' imprisonment, with a minimum fine of Rs 10 lakh. The bill also provides for compensation of up to Rs 10 lakh to victims, including immediate family members affected by unlawful conversion.Cases would be investigated by a police officer not below the rank of sub-inspector and tried in a special court. In the absence of a designated special court, trials would be conducted in sessions courts, with a mandate to complete proceedings within six months of filing the chargesheet.Sharma said the proposed law would replace the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 1968, which currently governs such matters in the state. He said the existing law only requires post-conversion intimation and treats forced conversion as a cognisable and bailable offence with relatively lighter punishment."Given the geographical, social, and economic conditions of Chhattisgarh, and the evolution of technology and communication, the existing law has become inadequate to effectively curb conversions through force, inducement, or fraudulent means," Sharma said, stressing the need for a comprehensive legal framework.Till now, action on cases of illegal conversions were taken under the 1968 Act, which Chhattisgarh adopted from Madhya Pradesh after its formation in 2000.The bill defines "allurement" to include monetary benefits, gifts, employment, free education or medical treatment, promises of a better lifestyle, or marriage, while "coercion" includes psychological pressure, physical force, threats, and social boycott.It also prohibits any direct or indirect attempt to promote or facilitate conversion through prohibited means, whether offline or online, and bars acts that endanger life or property or involve trafficking of minors or women for the purpose of conversion.