Jaipur, February 3 The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly witnessed the introduction of the “Rajasthan Unlawful Religious Conversion Prohibition Bill, 2025″ on Monday. The bill was presented by the state’s Health Minister, Gajendra Singh Khimsar. The proposed legislation will be debated during the Budget Session before being put to a vote for passage at a later date.
Key Provisions of the Bill
Under the proposed bill, individuals seeking to voluntarily convert their religion will be required to inform the District Collector at least 60 days in advance. This process has been made mandatory to ensure transparency in religious conversions.
Additionally, the bill includes specific provisions against “Love Jihad.” It defines the term as a situation where a person undergoes religious conversion solely for the purpose of marriage. If it is proven that a marriage was conducted with the intention of religious conversion, such a marriage may be annulled. Family courts will have the authority to declare such marriages void.
The bill introduces stringent punishments for unlawful religious conversions. The penalties include:
- Forcible or fraudulent conversion: Imprisonment ranging from one to five years.
- Conversion of minors or individuals belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST): Punishment of three to ten years of imprisonment.
- Mass conversions or repeated conversions: Stricter legal consequences and harsher sentences.
Government’s Rationale Behind the Bill
Following the bill’s introduction, Rajasthan’s Parliamentary Affairs and Law Minister, Jogaram Patel, addressed the media, emphasizing the necessity of this legislation. He stated that religious conversions through inducement, deceit, or marriage have been a pressing issue in the state, particularly in tribal regions. According to Patel, several organizations and individuals have been offering financial incentives or spreading misinformation to encourage conversions.
He further asserted that the proposed law is aimed at preventing such activities and ensuring that no individual, especially women, is coerced into religious conversion. Patel expressed confidence that once enacted, this legislation would effectively curb forced conversions and protect citizens’ rights.
Opposition’s Criticism
However, the opposition has raised concerns regarding the bill. Leader of Opposition Tikaram Julie questioned the government’s intent, stating that clarity is needed on why such a law is necessary. He argued that if the government has evidence of forced conversions, it should take direct action against those responsible rather than pushing a broad legislative measure. He also accused the government of prioritizing religious conversion laws while ignoring more pressing governance issues.
Historical Context
It is worth noting that a similar bill, the Religious Freedom Bill, 2008, was introduced during Vasundhara Raje’s tenure as Chief Minister. However, it faced significant legal and political hurdles, leading to its suspension by the Governor. The central government had raised objections to several provisions, resulting in a prolonged impasse between the state and central authorities. In 2023, the Ashok Gehlot-led government withdrew the bill from the Centre. The current administration has now reintroduced the Rajasthan Unlawful Religious Conversion Prohibition Bill, 2025, with revised provisions.
The introduction of this bill is expected to ignite a significant debate in the Rajasthan Assembly, with supporters arguing for the protection of religious autonomy and opponents cautioning against potential misuse of the law.
