The Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2025, has been introduced in the ongoing Budget Session of the Rajasthan Assembly. Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khinvsar presented the Bill, and it will be discussed before it is passed into law. It aims to prevent religious conversions through force, fraud, or inducement. Introduced in the state assembly, the proposed law prescribes strict penalties, including imprisonment and fines. While supporters view it as necessary, critics argue it restricts religious freedom and personal choice.
RAJASTHAN: The Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2025, has been introduced in the ongoing Budget Session of the Rajasthan Assembly. Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khinvsar presented the Bill, and it will be discussed before it is passed into law. Once passed, Rajasthan will become the 12th state in India to implement an anti-conversion law.
Objective of the Bill
This Bill aims to prevent religious conversions that happen through misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement, or fraudulent means, including those through marriage. Any conversion that occurs due to these reasons will be considered illegal under the proposed law.
The offence under this Bill is cognisable and non-bailable, meaning the accused can be arrested without a warrant, and bail will not be easily granted.
The law proposes strict punishments, including imprisonment for up to 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 50,000.
Key Provisions of the Bill
- It strictly bans conversions that happen due to force, threats, fraud, or marriage.
- Any individual who wants to convert must inform the District Magistrate at least 60 days before the conversion through a prescribed declaration.
- The responsibility of proving that a conversion was not done illegally will rest on the person who facilitated the conversion.
- If someone is forced to convert against their will, the court can grant them compensation of up to Rs 5 lakh.
- If a person is found guilty of illegal conversion more than once, they will face double the punishment for every subsequent offence.
- Marriages that take place solely for conversion will be considered invalid by family courts.
Punishment and Penalties
- If someone forces another person to convert, they will face imprisonment of at least one year, which may extend up to five years, along with a fine of Rs 15,000.
- If the victim is a minor, a woman, or belongs to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, the punishment increases to a minimum of two years and can extend up to 10 years, with a fine of Rs 25,000.
- If a mass conversion takes place, the punishment will be a jail term of three years, which may extend up to 10 years, and a fine of Rs 50,000.
- Marriages performed only for the purpose of conversion will be considered invalid.
Challenges and Concerns
Despite its objectives, the Bill has sparked significant debate. Critics argue that it may violate Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion. There are concerns that the law might be used to target religious minorities and restrict interfaith marriages.
Additionally, the requirement of prior approval for conversion is seen as an infringement on personal rights. Another major concern is that the law shifts the burden of proof onto the accused, which contradicts the legal principle of “innocent until proven guilty.”
Justification for the Law
According to the objectives mentioned in the Bill, “the Constitution of India guarantees religious freedom to all people which reflects the social harmony and spirit of India. The objective of this right is to sustain the spirit of secularism in India.”
The Bill justifies its need by stating,
“In the recent past, many such examples have come to light where gullible persons have been converted from one religion to another by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or fraudulent means.”
It further explains that,
“the law related to the right to religious freedom already exists in various states of the country but there was no statute on the said subject in Rajasthan. In view of the above, it was decided to enact a law to provide for prohibition of unlawful conversion.”
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Rajasthan Joins Other States with Anti-Conversion Laws
If the Bill is passed, Rajasthan will join 11 other states in India that already have similar laws. These states include Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
The law is expected to create strict regulations around religious conversions in Rajasthan, but it remains a subject of intense debate regarding its implications on personal freedom and constitutional rights.
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