Rajasthan Govt Introduces Anti-Conversion Invoice; Jail Up To 10 Years For Violation

The Rajasthan authorities on Monday launched the Prohibition of Illegal Conversion of Faith Invoice, 2025 within the state Meeting. The invoice makes non secular conversion by pressure, fraud, coercion, or marriage a punishable offence.

The offence will likely be cognisable and non-bailable. Violators can withstand 10 years in jail and a fantastic of as much as Rs 50,000. A court docket will deal with these circumstances.

Well being Minister Gajendra Singh Khinvsar tabled the invoice throughout the ongoing Finances Session. The Home will debate and vote on it earlier than passage.

The invoice proposes a jail time period of 1 to 5 years and a fantastic of ₹15,000 for violators. If the sufferer is a minor, lady, or belongs to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, the punishment will increase to 2 to 10 years in jail and a fantastic of ₹25,000.

For mass conversions, the invoice units a jail time period of three to 10 years and a fantastic of ₹50,000.

Based on the suggest invoice, these wishing to alter their faith should inform the District Justice of the Peace 60 days upfront by means of a proper declaration.

The invoice states that India’s Structure ensures non secular freedom to all and goals to uphold secularism.

Nonetheless, in recent times, a number of circumstances have emerged the place individuals have been unlawfully transformed to a different faith by means of fraud, coercion, pressure, or inducements.

Whereas many states have already got legal guidelines defending non secular freedom, Rajasthan had no such statute. To deal with this, the federal government determined to introduce a regulation prohibiting unlawful conversions.

The invoice additionally permits courts to order compensation of as much as ₹5 lakh for victims. Repeat offenders will face double the punishment.