Why in News?
The Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2025 was introduced in the ongoing Budget Session of the state Assembly recently.
- Provisions of the bill - Religious conversion by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means or by marriage has been made an offence in the Bill.
- The offence under the anti-conversion bill will be cognisable and non-bailable and triable by a court.
- Individuals who desire to convert their religion are required to give a declaration in the prescribed form at least 60 days in advance to the District Magistrate.
- The burden of proof that a religious conversion was not done through unlawful means rests on the person who has "caused" the conversion.
- The court may grant appropriate compensation to victims of unlawful conversion, which may extend to a maximum of ₹5 lakh.
- Repeat offenders may face double the punishment provided under the law for each subsequent offense.
- Marriages done for the sole purpose of conversion will be deemed invalid by family courts.
- Punishment and penalties - The Bill provisions imprisonment for a term not less than one year.
- It may extend to 5 years with a fine of Rs 15,000.
- Those who violate the rules in respect of a minor, a woman or a person belonging to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of 2 years.
- It may extend to 10 years along with a fine of Rs 25,000.
- In case of mass conversion, the bill provisions 3 years of jail extending up to 10 years and a fine of Rs 50,000.
- Marriages done for the sole purpose of conversion will be deemed invalid by family courts.
- Once passed, Rajasthan will become the 12th state to have an anti-conversion law.
- Other states having anti-conversion law
- Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Reference
The Indian Express | Anti-conversion bill
