The Uttarakhand Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, has approved the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introducing stricter measures to curb unlawful religious conversions. The bill, which was approved on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, includes harsher penalties, a ban on promoting conversions through digital means, and stronger protections for victims. The government is expected to present the bill for approval during the three-day monsoon session of the assembly, which begins on August 19.
Key Highlights of the Amended Bill
- Expanded Definition of Inducement: The bill broadens the definition of inducement to include offering gifts, money, material benefits, employment, free education, promises of marriage, hurting religious sentiments, or glorifying another religion, all of which will now be considered criminal acts.
- Ban on Digital Promotion: Promoting or inciting conversion through social media, messaging apps, or other online platforms will be a punishable offense.
- Harsh Punishments: General violations will result in imprisonment from 3 to 10 years. In cases involving vulnerable groups such as women, children, or members of Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, the sentence will range from 5 to 14 years. For severe offenses, imprisonment can extend up to 20 years or even life, along with heavy fines.
- Marriage Under False Identity: Concealing one's religion to marry will attract strict legal consequences.
- Protection of Victims: The bill includes provisions for the protection, rehabilitation, medical care, travel assistance, and financial support for victims of illegal conversions. Victims will receive legal aid, shelter, maintenance, and medical facilities, and their identities will be kept confidential. The government will also create a special scheme for immediate victim support.
- Property Seizure: Any illegal property acquired through religious conversion can be confiscated by the District Magistrate, and the accused will have to prove the legitimacy of the property.
- Non-Bailable Offenses: All offenses under the new provisions will be non-bailable. Police will have the authority to arrest without a warrant, and bail will only be granted if the court believes the accused is not guilty and will not commit the offense again.
- Foreign Funding: Individuals receiving funds from foreign entities for unlawful religious conversions may face imprisonment of 7 to 14 years and a fine of no less than Rs 10 lakh.
Objectives of the Law
The state government has stated that the law aims to protect citizens' religious rights while preventing conversions through fraud, inducement, or coercion, thereby ensuring communal harmony. The government believes the amendment is necessary to address demographic changes occurring under the guise of illegal conversions and to maintain the social fabric of the state.
Comparison with Previous Laws
At present, the maximum jail term for such offenses was 10 years, and the highest fine was Rs 50,000. The new bill proposes to increase the jail term to 14 years, and in some cases, to 20 years, which may even extend to life imprisonment. The Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act, 2022, also sought to impose a fine of at least ₹50,000 on the offender and make them liable to pay compensation of up to ₹5 lakh to the victim.
Other Provisions
The bill defines mass conversion as the conversion of two or more persons. Any conversion not complying with the legislation is classified as an unlawful religious conversion. The victim of an unlawful conversion may receive up to Rs 5 lakh from the accused as compensation, in addition to any fine imposed.
