On Maharashtra’s anti-conversion Bill, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026 passed both houses of the Maharashtra Legislature.
• The Bill aims to prohibit unlawful religious conversions through allurement, misrepresentation, force, or fraudulent means.
• It mandates a 60-day prior notice for conversion and a post-conversion declaration.
• Violations can lead to imprisonment up to 10 years and a fine up to ₹7 lakh.

Detailed Insights:

• The Bill requires police to register complaints from converted individuals or their relatives.
• Marriages solely for unlawful conversion can be declared null and void by the court.
• Children from such marriages inherit the mother's religion and have succession rights to both parents' property.
• Concerns include potential curtailment of individual freedom of religion and administrative overreach.
• Critics fear the Bill may target interfaith marriages and minority religious practices.
• The government argues the Bill is necessary to maintain public order and social harmony due to increasing forced conversions.
• Bureaucrats highlight the need for a new certification system for religions, raising administrative challenges.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Freedom of Religion: The right to practice and propagate one's religion, subject to public order, morality, and health.
• Unlawful Conversion: Conversion through allurement, misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, or fraudulent means.
• Cognizable Offense: An offense for which a police officer can arrest without a warrant.