Consent forms, notices, prison terms: Maharashtra anti-conversion law | Explained
Government’s stated case for the law is the need to curb conversion obtained through force or fraud but sections of the Christian and Muslim communities have set out the opposite concern: that a wide reading of terms such as inducement could reach conduct that has nothing to do with coercion, from a personal relationship to attendance at a weekly service
The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, which goes into effect on August 28, mandates individuals who intend to switch religions to provide a 60-day notice to the District Magistrate. The law imposes prison sentences of up to seven years for a first offense and up to ten years for a repeat offense if someone is found guilty of coercing someone else to convert.
The Pune Police have already begun registering cases even before the Act was officially announced. This has led to concerns about where the law's focus lies in relation to everyday religious practices. Several minority groups worry about the broad scope of the law, and whether it could be used to stifle religious freedom. The Act received approval from President Droupadi Murmu earlier this month and was officially notified as a State law on July 30.
It targets individuals who engage in coercion, fraud, inducement, or allurement during the conversion process. A person who plans to convert must notify the District Magistrate 60 days ahead of time. The conversion must be registered with the authority within 25 days; otherwise, it will be deemed invalid. If a complaint is filed by a blood relative of a person seeking conversion alleging that the conversion is unlawful, the police must register a First Information Report and conduct an investigation.
A person found guilty of converting someone through prohibited means faces up to seven years in prison, while repeat offenses could result in up to ten years in prison. In Pune, the police have been registering cases of attempted inducement to convert well before the law comes into effect, raising questions about how this law will be implemented at the local police station level and the safeguards that are supposed to precede a case under it.
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