Consent forms, notices, prison terms: Maharashtra anti-conversion law | Explained

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Prayer halls across Vasai, Virar, Mira-Bhayandar and other parts of the Mumbai Metroplitan Region have begun asking worshippers for a consent form that they are willingly attending church events. Representational file image. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

The story so far: The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026 , which comes into force on August 28, requires anyone who intends to convert to another religion to give a 60 days’ notice to the District Magistrate. It also sets prison terms of up to seven years for a first violation and up to 10 years for a repeat one, if found guilty of forcing anyone to convert.

The Pune Police have already begun registering cases even before the Act was notified, only to later revoke it calling it a “mistake". Churches in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region have begun circulating a consent form among worshippers as a precaution.

Several minority communites have raised concern: where does the law’s target end and everyday practice begin?

The Act received President Droupadi Murmu’s assent earlier this month and took the form of a State law after its official notification on July 30. It targets conversion carried out through coercion, fraud, inducement or allurement, and lays out a procedure for a person who wishes to change religion by choice. A person planning to convert must notify the District Magistrate 60 days in advance.

A conversion must be registered with the authority within 25 days, or it will be considered null and void. If the blood relative of a person who wishes to convert files a complaint about the same being unlawful, the police will have to register a first information report and conduct an inquiry.

A person found to have converted someone through a prohibited means faces a prison term of up to seven years, and a repeat offence draws up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

According to a press note issued by the Archdiocese of Bombay, Maharashtra is the 13th State to pass a law of this kind, after similar statutes in States such as Uttar Pradesh , Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Karnataka.

Take this example from Pune. Even before the law was notified, the police registered a case alleging attempts to induce individuals to convert, including one against a United Kingdom-based Overseas Citizen of India cardholder accusing him of delivering religious speeches without permission — something the law doesn’t even mandate.

The episode raises questions on how the law will be applied at the level of a police station, and over the safeguards that are supposed to precede a case under it.

An anti-conversion law was part of the BJP’s poll promise during State elections. When the law’s draft was cleared by the Maharashtra Cabinet in March, Minister Nitish Rane had said: “We had firmly stated during the Assembly election that once we come to power, we will bring a strong anti-conversion law, also referred to as a law against love jihad, in Maharashtra.