Chhattisgarh cabinet clears draft Bill against forced religious conversions | Raipur News

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh cabinet on Tuesday approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026, aimed at preventing religious conversions through force, inducement, fraudulent means or misrepresentation.The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai at his office in the state assembly complex. The proposed legislation seeks to curb conversions carried out through coercion, undue influence, deception or allurement. The draft made after studying laws in nine states, suggests to follow a standard procedure for religious conversion, that includes prior intimation to the district administration, 60 days before taking up another religion. Officials told TOI that the conversion would be considered valid only after compliance with the prescribed process of intimation, seeking approval and publishing it in a local newspaper.They said the draft states stringent punishment provisions for conversions alleged to be forced or induced through coercion or allurement.Officials said the proposal is aimed at preventing disturbances in sensitive pockets, particularly tribal districts like Bastar, Raigarh Jashpur where conversion-related tensions have surfaced in recent years, while a large part of Surguja has already undergone rampant conversions.If a conversion is carried out outside the said rule, it will be deemed invalid, officials said. Forced, fraudulent or allurement-driven conversions will attract strict action.The draft of the Bill will now be tabled at state assembly likely later this week.