The Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly passed the much-awaited Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill-2026 by voice vote on Thursday, in the absence of the main opposition Congress party. The bill, comprising five chapters and 31 sections, introduces stringent provisions to curb religious conversions through coercion, fraud, inducement, or marriage. Under the new law, those involved in unlawful conversions face 7-10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of 5 lakh. Violations targeting minors, persons of unsound mind, women, or Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe individuals carry 10-20 years’ jail time and a minimum fine of 10 lakh. Mass conversions will attract life imprisonment and a minimum fine of 25 lakh. Public servants aiding such acts face 10-20 years’ imprisonment and a minimum10 lakh fine. Repeat offenders will receive life imprisonment. A special court will handle religious conversion cases in every district. Voluntary converts must notify the District Magistrate or competent authority beforehand; details will be publicly displayed for 30 days to allow objections. The bill defines key terms like inducement, coercion, mass conversion, and digital conversions, while exempting reversion to ancestral religion from being classified as conversion.

 

For interfaith marriages, the officiating priest, cleric, or authority must submit a declaration to the competent authority eight days prior. If deemed a ploy for conversion, the marriage may be declared invalid. Replying to the debate, Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Vijay Sharma emphasised that the bill prevents fraudulent conversions while upholding constitutional rights. Vijay Sharma noted zero reported conversions in districts like Narayanpur, Bijapur, Kondagaon, and Kanker from 2004-2021, adding that permissions for religious sites were withheld. Earlier, Leader of Opposition Dr Charan Das Mahant objected to tabling the bill, citing pending Supreme Court cases on similar laws from 11 states. He urged sending it to a Select Committee. Sharma countered that the Supreme Court never barred new laws, and public feedback had been sought. Presiding Officer Dharamlal Kaushik rejected the objections, prompting Congress MLAs to boycott proceedings. Sharma dubbed it an ‘opposition exodus’ and accused Congress of backing conversions. BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar initiated the discussion, joined by MLAs including Dharamlal Kaushik, Lata Usendi, Raimuni Bhagat, Chaitram Atami, Ramkumar Toppo, Deepesh Sahu, Shakuntala Porte, Neelkanth Tekam, Bhawana Bohra, Vinayak Goel, Anuj Sharma, Sushant Shukla, and Rohit Sahu. Abhanpur MLA Indra Kumar Sahu suggested a ‘Ghar Wapsi’ package akin to Naxal surrender policies. Kaushik proposed surveying religious site constructions statewide.