Raipur: The Chhattisgarh government on Wednesday introduced a bill in the state Assembly to tighten action against forced religious conversions, including a provision for life imprisonment in cases of mass conversions.
The proposed law, titled the Chhattisgarh Dharm Swatantrya Vidheyak, 2026 (Religious Freedom Bill, 2026), was tabled by Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma. The state government said it is intended to replace the Religious Freedom law that came into force when Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000.
According to the government, the bill aims to prevent conversions allegedly carried out through inducements such as marriage promises and financial assistance, as well as through threats—particularly involving women, children and tribal communities.
Key provisions include jail terms of seven years for forced conversions, extendable up to 10 years, along with a minimum fine of Rs 5 lakh. For cases involving minors, women, persons with mental illness, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes, the punishment can go up to 20 years with a minimum fine of Rs 10 lakh.
The bill defines conversion of more than two persons as “mass conversion” and proposes life imprisonment for such cases, while also stating that bail will not be granted in conversion-related cases. It further clarifies that returning to one’s ancestral faith will not be treated as conversion, and makes prior intimation to an officer of district judge rank mandatory for those intending to change religion.
