Maharashtra Cabinet Approves Controversial Anti-Conversion Bill
Maharashtra's New Anti-Conversion Legislation
On Thursday, the Maharashtra Cabinet sanctioned a draft bill aimed at regulating religious conversions, which includes penalties of up to seven years in prison and fines reaching Rs 5 lakh for illegal or coerced conversions, as reported by a local news outlet.
The proposed legislation, known as the Dharma Swatantrya Adhiniyam 2026, stipulates that individuals wishing to convert must obtain prior approval from the authorities. According to the draft, a 60-day notice must be submitted before any conversion can take place, and the conversion must be officially registered within 25 days; otherwise, it will be deemed invalid.
In cases where a relative of the individual seeking conversion files a complaint alleging unlawful conversion, the police are required to register a first information report and initiate an investigation.
Violations of this bill will be classified as non-bailable offenses, according to the same news source.
The government plans to present this bill during the current Budget Session of the Assembly.
Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane confirmed to the media that the bill addressing 'love jihad' has been approved, and a government resolution will follow shortly.
Rane emphasized that this legislation aims to prevent unlawful conversions and ensure that no one can forcibly marry or convert Hindu women.
He noted that the bill was crafted with careful consideration of constitutional provisions, Supreme Court directives, and existing laws from other states.
The term 'love jihad' refers to a controversial theory suggesting that Muslim men deceive Hindu women into relationships with the intent of converting them to Islam. The Union home ministry has clarified to Parliament that current Indian laws do not recognize such a term.
Earlier in February, the Supreme Court requested responses from the Centre and twelve state governments regarding a petition that argues anti-conversion laws in these states criminalize voluntary changes of faith.
Notices were sent to the governments of Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, and Rajasthan.
The Union government informed the court that state authorities have valid reasons to enact these laws, and a Constitution bench of the Supreme Court has previously upheld the legitimacy of such legislation.