Mumbai, March 17: The Maharashtra Assembly passed the Religious Freedom Bill 2026 late Monday night after intense discussions. The ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi government emphasized the need for this legislation to curb illegal and forced conversions. The Shiv Sena (UBT) also supported the bill, highlighting divisions within the coalition. However, other allied parties, including Congress, NCP (SP), and the Samajwadi Party, opposed the measure.
The bill stipulates penalties of up to seven years in prison and fines ranging from ₹100,000 to ₹500,000 for general cases. In cases involving women, minors, or SC/ST individuals, the imprisonment can extend to ten years, with fines reaching ₹700,000. It mandates that individuals wishing to convert must provide a written notice to the district magistrate 60 days prior, followed by a declaration. Marriages resulting from illegal conversions may be annulled.
After passing in the Assembly, the bill is now set for discussion in the Legislative Council on Tuesday. During the Assembly debate, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified that the bill is not aimed at any specific community. He stressed that it is intended solely to prevent conversions through coercion, fraud, or inducement.
The Chief Minister outlined the government’s stance in the Assembly. The bill, titled the Maharashtra Religious Freedom Act, 2026, was introduced by Minister of State for Home (Rural) Dr. Pankaj Bhoyar. Its goal is to regulate conversions that occur through inducement, deception, or force.
Fadnavis noted that several states, including Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, and Rajasthan, already have anti-conversion laws in place. In light of this, Maharashtra has decided to implement a similar law.
He emphasized that Article 25 of the Indian Constitution grants every citizen the right to religious freedom. Everyone has the right to practice, profess, and propagate their religion. However, forcing someone to convert, through fraud, pressure, coercion, or inducement, is inherently wrong. Thus, this law is essential to prevent such cases.
Individuals wishing to convert voluntarily must adhere to the legal process and inform authorized officials about their conversion. Competent authorities will verify that the conversion is indeed voluntary before granting approval.
Supporting the bill, Shiv Sena (UBT) member Jadhav stated that its purpose is to protect the right to religious freedom and prevent illegal conversions. He asserted that the bill is comprehensive and does not target any specific religion, despite rumors to the contrary. Its aim is to curb unethical practices and the misuse of religion.
Jadhav refuted claims in the media suggesting that the bill targets a particular faith, asserting that it applies equally to all religions and aims to prevent coercion or inducement in conversions.
During the debate, NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad sparked a significant controversy while discussing the Maharashtra Religious Freedom Bill 2026. He referenced various historical examples, but when he specifically mentioned the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, it led to uproar in the Assembly. Speaker Rahul Narwekar instructed Awhad to apologize, which he subsequently did.
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My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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