Maharashtra passes anti-conversion bill; MoS Bhoyar says law targets only forceful conversions The Maharashtra legislature passed the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act 2026 in both houses, with minister of state (Home) Pankaj Bhoyar presenting the bill in the Legislative Council on March 17. Bhoyar described the legislation as a law the state had long awaited, emphasizing the government's resolve under chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. He clarified that the law specifically targets coerced conversions and does not infringe upon the right to convert. "We are not infringing upon anyone's rights. Rather, the provision for such registration is being introduced to ensure whether a conversion has truly taken place voluntarily or not," Bhoyar stated. Bhoyar explained the constitutional basis for the law, noting that while the Constitution guarantees the right to profess, practise, and propagate one's religion, this right is not absolute. "If the government feels that someone is carrying out religious conversion through fraud, coercion or inducement, the Constitution also provides scope for the state government to enact a law against it," he added. Regarding children born from marriages based on illegal conversions, Bhoyar mentioned that the child will be deemed to belong to the mother's original religion. Such children will retain full inheritance rights, and their custody will vest with the mother. The Act defines various forms of illegal conversion, including allurement, coercion, fraud, force, enticement, mass conversion, and undue influence. Performing an illegal conversion, attempting to do so, assisting, aiding, or instigating such a conversion is a punishable offence. Any conversion carried out in violation of the Act shall be declared void.#maharashtra #devendra_fadnavis #pankaj_bhoyar #maharashtra_freedom_of_religion_act_2026 #illegal_conversion
