Is Maharashtra's new anti-conversion law unconstitutional? Legal battle set to begin soon

The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026, will soon be challenged in the Bombay High Court by Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi president Prakash Ambedkar.

Ambedkar has stated that his party plans to legally challenge the legislation in court, as it violates basic principles of the Indian Constitution.

The state assembly and council had passed the controversial bill in March during the budget session of the state legislature. The bill received President Draupadi Murmu's approval last week. Then Governor Jishnu Dev Varma returned it to the government, and a notification has been issued.

Ambedkar said the bill has been brought to harass minorities in BJP-ruled states and there are already enough provisions in the law to tackle the issue of religious conversions. The bill had been passed in the state legislature by voice vote and has very strong provisions to prevent religious conversion carried out through coercion, fraud, inducement, and marriage.

The anti-conversion law was one of the BJP's poll promises. Under this law, marriages performed with the aim of conversion will be declared null and void, and the children will get the religion of the mother, with custody remaining with the mother. There is also a provision of a prison term of seven to 10 years for carrying out forceful conversion under the law.

While tabling the bill, Chief Minister Fadnavis had stated that it would be applicable to all religions. This law is being brought because issues like conversion often lead to law and order situations in the state. As per the law, it is now mandatory to give a 60-day notice to the district magistrate before changing religion. It also allows parents, siblings, and other relatives of the converted person to register a complaint if they suspect the conversion has been carried out by coercion, inducement, or fraud.