Rajasthan News: Big decision of Rajasthan's Bhajanlal government, anti-conversion bill will be amended

Rajasthan News: The Bhajanlal government of Rajasthan is constantly taking big and important decisions. In this episode, the Bhajanlal cabinet has once again taken an important decision regarding amendment in the Prohibition of Religious Conversion Act. In this amendment bill, provisions are being included for strictness on cases like love jihad and up to life imprisonment. Along with this, stringent steps like fine up to Rs 50 lakh and confiscation of property are also proposed. This bill will be introduced in the assembly session starting from September 1, 2025.

Cabinet approval and main points of the bill

This amendment bill was approved in the cabinet meeting held on Saturday. Under the new provisions, conversion of religion or conversion through marriage without the permission of the District Collector will be considered a crime. There will be a provision of minimum 7 years and maximum 20 years of punishment for this crime. Apart from this, the following activities have also been kept in the category of crime:

Giving inducement

• Pressure
• Forceful propaganda
• Conversion through marriage
• However, voluntarily "ghar wapsi" to one's original religion will be allowed.

Punishment and penalty provisions

• The amended bill proposes stringent penalties for different types of conversion offences:
• Simple offences: 7 to 14 years imprisonment and fine up to Rs 5 lakh.
• Cases of minors, women, differently abled or SC-ST communities: 10 to 20 years imprisonment and fine up to Rs 10 lakh.
• Mass conversions: Minimum 20 years imprisonment, maximum life imprisonment and fine up to Rs 25 lakh.
• Conversions with foreign funding: 10 to 20 years imprisonment and fine up to Rs 20 lakh.
• Conversions linked to child marriage: Minimum 20 years and maximum life imprisonment.
• Recurrence (repeated offences): Minimum 20 years rigorous imprisonment and minimum fine of Rs 50 lakh.
• If an institution is found to be involved in such offences repeatedly, its registration will be cancelled and government grants will also be stopped.

Property confiscation and marriage voidness

The bill also provides that the place, premises or house where the crime of conversion takes place can be acquired by the government, which will end the ownership of the property. Apart from this, if a marriage is done for the purpose of religious conversion, it will be considered void. Such cases will be heard in the Sessions Court.

Valid procedure for religious conversion

• The government has also laid down a clear procedure for religious conversion:
• The interested person will have to give prior notice to the District Magistrate.
• The Collector will give permission if satisfied after investigation.
• There will be a provision for punishment for not giving permission or giving wrong information.
• If an institution organizes religious conversion, it will have to give prior notice twice.

Background and opposition

In recent times, many cases of forced and induced religious conversion have come to light in Rajasthan. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) national spokesperson Amitosh Pareek had expressed serious concern over these incidents and demanded strict action from the government. VHP's working president Alok Kumar had recently met Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and urged him to bring a strict law on this issue. In this background, the Bhajan Lal government has prepared this amendment bill, which will be introduced in the upcoming assembly session.