Uttarakhand has moved to tighten its anti-conversion law, proposing life imprisonment, steeper fines, and a ban on promoting religious conversion through social media.
Newsroom (15/08/2025 Gaudium Press) The northern Indian state of Uttarakhand has moved to tighten its anti-conversion law, proposing life imprisonment, steeper fines, and a ban on promoting religious conversion through social media. The state cabinet, led by the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), approved the Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill on August 13, with plans to table it in the State Assembly session starting August 19.
The proposed amendments escalate penalties for “forced conversions,” introducing prison terms ranging from three years to life imprisonment—potentially lasting the accused’s natural life, barring government remission for good behavior or humanitarian reasons. The current maximum sentence is 10 years. Fines for violations would double to 100,000 Indian rupees (US$1,140) from 50,000 rupees. The bill outlines tiered penalties: three to 10 years for general violations, five to 14 years for sensitive cases, and 20 years to life for serious offenses.
The bill also broadens the definition of inducement to include “gifts, cash, goods, benefits, employment, free education, or promises of marriage.” It criminalizes “hurting religious faith or glorifying another religion” and prohibits promoting or inciting conversion via social media, messaging apps, or other online platforms. A state official, quoted by local media, said the changes aim to “protect religious rights, prohibit conversion by fraud, inducement, or pressure, and maintain social harmony.”
Uttarakhand, where Christians constitute less than 1% of the 10 million population, has had an anti-conversion law since 2018, previously amended in 2022 under Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s second term. The BJP, which rules 11 Indian states with similar laws, has long championed such measures.
Christian leaders expressed concern over potential misuse. Father Jinto Arimbookaram of Bijnor diocese warned that routine church activities, like Sunday Mass, could be misconstrued as conversion efforts. “We must be cautious, as anti-social elements could target churches,” he said on August 14. He emphasized that the Catholic Church, active in the state for over 50 years, does not promote conversion but noted the need to study the amendments’ context.
A.C. Michael, convenor of the United Christian Forum and a former Delhi minorities body member, called the amendments a “complete violation” of India’s Constitution, which guarantees freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practice, and propagate religion under Article 25. He cited a May 16 Supreme Court hearing on Uttar Pradesh’s anti-conversion law, where justices flagged potential constitutional violations. “We hope the courts will protect our fundamental rights,” Michael said.
The proposed law introduces protections for victims and bans digital propaganda, signaling a broader crackdown on perceived religious conversion activities. As the bill heads to the assembly, its implications for Uttarakhand’s minority communities remain a point of contention.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCAN news
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