UTTARAKHAND Main Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami during the cabinet meeting. , Photo credit: PTI
In order to make the existing law on the anti -version of the state stricter, the Uttarakhand cabinet on Wednesday (August 13, 2025) passed the Freedom Religion Act (amendment), allowing prison from three years to life imprisonment for persons found for persons for persons “forced conversions”. Previously, the maximum imprisonment for “forced conversion” was 10 years.
The bill will be submitted at the monsoon meeting of the State Assembly, which is to be launched from 19 August.
The Freedom of Religion Freedom in Uttarakhand was introduced in 2018 in order to strengthen the importance of each religion equally under the right of freedom of religion in Articles 25, 26, 27 and 28 Institutes of India. The act was first changed in 2022.
Attempts to transform a person into another religion with the bait of jobs, money or other “gifts” would be considered forced to convert, the officials involved in framing the bill.
“Promises of better life or free education at school or college maintained by religious institution before religious transformation attracts punishment for three to 10 years. Mass conversions and conversion activity with foreign financing attract punishment from seven to 14 years. With five S five S five S five S five S five, and being imprisoned or imprisonment, or is that it is imprisoned or imprisonment or imprisonment, or is imprisonment, or is imprison Planned caste) and planned caste) and planned trunks) and planned caste) and planned years, ”said the clerk.
The bill defines “attraction” as “any gift, satisfaction, easy money or material advantage, whether in cash or type, employment or evoking divine displeasure”.
“The depiction of practices, rituals and ceremonies of any religion or any integral part of the prejudice in relation to any other religion; or celebrating one religion compared to the other, it will also be considered to be attached,” the clerk said.
Trading people and threat to life attract prison from 20 years to life under Act 2025.
The accusations can be booked for “false promises of marriage”. Hiding someone’s religion with the intention of marriage could attract imprisonment from three to 10 years and a fine of 3 lakh.
“Talking about one religion and praise of another and propaganda on social or digital media would also be considered participation in religious transformation,” the clerk said.
The amended bill is entitled by the district judge of the seizure of real estate “obtained from a crime related to religious transformation”. It would have to be established demands on legitimate ownership, the official said.
The amended bill includes provisions for free legal assistance, accommodation, maintenance, medical and other equipment for victims of violent conversions whose names and identity would be maintained confidential. A special government system would ensure that the victims immediately receive help.
According to the proposal of Act 2025, the accused may only be arrested without order and deposit only if the court was convinced that the accused was not guilty and such a crime would not commit again.
Published – 14 August 2025 9:16
