Raipur, March 19: The Chhattisgarh Assembly on Thursday passed the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026 (Chhattisgarh Dharma Swatantraya Vidheyak) introducing life imprisonment and heavy fines to curb illegal religious conversions even as the Opposition Congress boycotted the House in protest.

The new legislation replaces the decades-old 1968 Act, which the government termed “inadequate” in the face of modern challenges like digital inducement and organised mass conversions.

Under the new law, any conversion involving force, coercion, misrepresentation, or “allurement” will attract a prison term of 7 to 10 years and a minimum fine of ₹5 lakh. The Bill classifies all such offences as cognizable and non-bailable, with trials to be conducted in designated special courts.

The legislation prescribes even harsher penalties for targeting vulnerable sections. Conversions involving minors, women, or persons belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) will lead to 10 to 20 years of imprisonment and a minimum fine of ₹10 lakh. In cases defined as “mass conversions,” the punishment can extend to life imprisonment with a minimum fine of ₹25 lakh.

A significant procedural shift requires individuals intending to convert to notify the District Magistrate (DM) in advance. The DM will publicly display the details of the intended conversion for a 30-day objection period. Notably, the Bill clarifies that “ghar wapsi” or returning to one’s ancestral religion will not be treated as a conversion under this law.

Addressing interfaith marriages, the Bill mandates that any religious priest, including a Pandit or Maulvi solemnising such a union, must inform the competent authority at least eight days in advance. If the authority finds the marriage was conducted solely for the purpose of conversion, the union may be declared null and void.

The Bill also provides a comprehensive legal definition for “digital means” of conversion and “inducement,” reflecting the state’s intent to monitor online proselytization. The passage of the Bill marks a major shift in Chhattisgarh’s legal framework, emphasizing preventive mechanisms and stricter enforcement over the previous “post-intimation” regime.

Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Vijay Sharma tabled the Chhattisgarh Dharma Swatantraya Vidheyak (Freedom of Religion Bill), 2026, in the Chhattisgarh Assembly, leading to a heated exchange and an eventual boycott by the Opposition Congress.

The proceedings took a volatile turn as Leader of Opposition (LoP) Charan Das Mahant requested the Chair to halt the tabling. While the Chair allowed the Bill to be presented, it assured the Opposition of adequate time for a response. Following the formal tabling, Mahant questioned the “rush” to pass the law and demanded that the Bill be referred to a select committee comprising House members and High Court or Supreme Court judges for deeper deliberation.

Invoking B.R. Ambedkar, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Lord Buddha, Mahant argued that social justice and diversity are the country’s core strengths. “The state should not take hasty steps that might divide society,” the LoP said, adding that similar laws in 11 other states are currently under Supreme Court scrutiny.

Countering the Opposition, BJP member Ajay Chandrakar stated that the apex court has not barred states from enacting such laws. He cited the 1954 Niyogi Committee report, established by former Chief Minister Ravishankar Shukla, to highlight the historical context of forced conversions. Home Minister Vijay Sharma added that Article 25 of the Constitution grants the state authority to legislate on public order, describing the Congress walkout as an “avoidance of meaningful discussion.”

The Bill, previously approved by the Cabinet under Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, mandates a standardised procedure for those seeking to convert, including a 60-day prior notice to the District Magistrate. Officials clarified that a conversion would be legally valid only after mandatory notification, inquiry, and publication in a local newspaper.

The legislation includes strict penalties for violations and specifically targets concerns in regions like Bastar, Raigarh, Jashpur, and Surguja. Any conversion conducted outside these prescribed rules will be considered null and void under the new legal framework.