The Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly on Thursday (March 19, 2026) passed a new law regulating religious conversions. Even as the state joined several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states in passing similar legislation in recent years, the opposition boycotted the House proceedings and demanded a review.
The Chhattisgarh Dharm Swatantra Vidheyak (Freedom of Religion Act), 2026 seeks to replace the 1968 Act of undivided Madhya Pradesh. It considers any conversion in violation of its provisions as “illegal” and imposes stiffer penalties, including life imprisonment and fines of up to ₹25 million in specific cases.
“It would stop conversions done by taking advantage of people’s poverty and lack of education and knowledge,” Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai told reporters after the bill was passed.
The 58-year-old law has become inadequate in the current scenario to “effectively check the use of force, greed and fraudulent practices for conversion from one religion to another. Hence, it has become imperative to enact a comprehensive law,” Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who also holds the home portfolio, told the assembly.
“No person shall convert, whether directly or otherwise, or by using or practicing glorification, misrepresentation, violence, undue influence, coercion, seduction, by physical or digital means or by any other means, to convert or assist in the conversion of any person or persons from one faith or religion to another,” according to the bill.
Redefining incentives
The bill expands the definition of inducements to include monetary benefits, gifts, employment, free education or medical facilities, promises of a better lifestyle or marriage. “Coercion” under the Bill includes psychological coercion, physical force or threats, including social boycott. It further proposes to publish “details of the proposed religious conversion on its official website maintained by the competent authority under this Act” and to set up special courts to hear all such cases registered under the proposed Act.
Undue influence is defined as the use of a position of authority, trust, or power arising from a fiduciary relationship, real or apparent authority, or other similar circumstances with the intent to obtain an undue advantage or benefit, to influence the will of another person, and to induce such person to act contrary to his free will or best interests.
Mass conversions, which the law defines as conversions of two or more persons, are punishable by imprisonment of at least 10 years, extendable to life, and a fine of ₹25 million or more, while repeat offenders face life imprisonment. In other cases, penal provisions, including imprisonment ranging from 10 to 20 years and fine not less than ₹10 lakh in cases involving minors; women; mentally disabled persons; and members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or Other Backward Classes have been mentioned in the Bill.
Conversion for the sole purpose of “marriage or marriage contracted for the purpose of conversion shall be deemed void unless due legal procedures are followed,” the proposed law states.
Previous notice
Individuals intending to convert must submit a declaration to the relevant authority, and religious functionaries conducting the conversion must also provide prior notification, the bill states.
“For the purposes of this Act, ‘competent authority’ means the District Magistrate or any officer specially authorized by the District Magistrate who is not inferior to another District Magistrate,” he added.
Accepting foreign or domestic funds for activities to violate the law under the proposed law would allow the state to withdraw financial or infrastructure assistance from violators.
Back conversion to ancestral religion will not be treated as conversion under law.
Earlier, when the bill was introduced in the House, Congress MLAs raised objections, calling for wider consultations and seeking to refer the bill to a “select committee”. Leader of the Opposition Charan Das Mahant said similar laws from 11 states are currently pending in the Supreme Court and therefore the bill should not be discussed in a hurry in the House.
The matter was relevant to the state and conversions were not reported in various districts of Bastar between 2004 and 2021 despite the existence of the oldest law, Mr. Sharma said during the discussion on the bill. The opposition was not boycotting but absconding, the deputy CM said.
Published – 19 March 2026 22:53 IST
