MUMBAI: Maharashtra’s proposed anti-conversion law will render marriages conducted through inducement, deceit or coercion null and void, say sources. In such cases, any blood relative of the affected parties may file a complaint with the district magistrate, who will inquire into the details and then refer the matter to the local police for appropriate action against those involved, the sources said.The draft law, to be called the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act 2026, was cleared by the cabinet on Thursday and will be put before the ongoing legislative session. The sources did not provide clarity on situations where a woman who is not under the age of consent enters an inter-religious marriage with her willingness but with her family opposed to it.Sources said a govt-appointed panel examined Article 25 of the Constitution, which gives freedom of religion, while preparing the draft. The panel examined past SC orders pertaining to this, mainly where it mentioned the protection of individuals from conversion through coercion, inducement and fraudulent or illicit means, along with seminal laws enacted by other states, before finalising the draft law.The new law, once passed, will have an arrest provision with maximum punishment up to seven years and a fine, sources said. They added that the offender will include all those involved in the forcible or deceitful conversion process.The inter-religion marriage was one of the topics raised aggressively by BJP leaders for long, which they termed as ‘love jihad’ by connecting it with the minority community marrying girls from the majority community.Sources stated that the Constitution and Supreme Court orders pertaining to freedom of religion also talk about protecting it and allowing the state to adopt the required safeguards for protection of religion by not allowing forcible conversion, which would be ensured via the state’s proposed anti-conversion law. A source said that a marriage that takes place via conversion with deceitful act, inducement and coercion will be null and void and any blood relatives of the affected “victim” can file a case with the district magistrate who will inquire into the details before reaching a conclusion about whether the marriage had taken place with forcible or deceitful conversion. The magistrate will accordingly refer the matter to the local police, who will then register the FIR for further action in accordance with the new law.
