Amendments to Uttarakhand anti-conversion law tabled in assembly

Gairsain: Amendments to the anti-conversion law, making it harsher with stringent provisions such as punishment of up to life imprisonment and heavy fines, were introduced in the Uttarakhand state assembly on Tuesday.

The Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2025, provides for a maximum punishment of life imprisonment and a heavy fine of up to 10 lakh rupees for forced conversion.

At present, the law has a provision of a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 rupees.

More stringent provisions are being added to the existing law to stop conversions carried out through fraud, inducement, or pressure, according to the government.

The definition of inducement has been expanded in the bill to include gifts, cash or goods, benefits, employment, free education, promise of marriage, hurting religious faith, or glorifying another religion, categorising all of them as crimes.

It also makes punishable acts such as promoting or inciting conversion through social media, messaging apps, or any online medium.

Under the bill, there is a provision of three to 10 years’ imprisonment for general violations, five to 14 years in cases related to sensitive classes, and 20 years to life imprisonment in serious cases, along with heavy fines.

This is the second amendment to the anti-conversion law, which has been in force since 2018. The first amendment to the Act was made in 2022.