The Maharashtra government has introduced a severe law to stop forced religious conversions. The Dharma Swatantrya Bill 2026 was recently tabled in the state assembly. The primary goal of this Maharashtra Anti-Conversion Law is entirely straightforward. It aims to permanently stop people from using force, fraud, allurement, or fake marriages to change someone’s religion. Consequently, those who run organized conversion networks in the state will now face heavy jail time instead of finding easy legal loopholes.
The Severe 10-Year Jail Punishment
This new legislation brings massive legal consequences for offenders. If a person is found guilty of unlawful conversion, they will immediately face up to 7 years in jail and a ₹1 lakh fine. However, the punishment gets much worse if the victim is a woman, a minor, or belongs to the SC/ST community. In these specific cases, the criminal will face 7 years in prison and a massive ₹5 lakh fine. Furthermore, repeat offenders can be locked up for up to 10 years. The state is sending a direct warning that fraudulent conversions carry a heavy price.
Nullifying Fake Marriages
One of the biggest issues in rural and urban areas is the use of marriage as a trap for religious conversion. This Maharashtra Anti-Conversion Law tackles this exact problem using strict legal codes. Under this bill, any marriage done purely for the purpose of religious conversion will be declared completely null and void by the family courts. Additionally, if a child is born from such a fraudulent marriage, the child will legally keep the original religion of the mother. Therefore, the law entirely removes the core motive behind these fake marriages.
Giving Legal Power to Families
Previously, families watched helplessly as their children were manipulated and taken away by religious predators. Now, the law gives direct power back to the parents. An FIR for unlawful conversion can now be filed by the victim’s parents, siblings, or direct blood relatives. Also, anyone who genuinely wants to convert must give a formal, written 60-day notice to the District Magistrate. This necessary cooling-off period allows the authorities to thoroughly check if the conversion is truly voluntary.
A Necessary Step for Justice
This is a massive and practical step by the state government to protect innocent families. Maharashtra now joins other states like Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat in passing these strict rules. This law does not target genuine faith; it specifically targets fraud, blackmail, and coercion. It ensures that vulnerable individuals finally have the backing of a strong legal system. Forced conversion is a serious crime, and Maharashtra will now punish it with maximum force.
