Goa Cabinet Approves Anti-Conversion Bill: Life Imprisonment, Fine Up To ₹5 Lakh Proposed

The Goa cabinet on Tuesday cleared the Goa Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2026, for introduction in the state assembly, setting out stringent penalties for religious conversions carried out through force, coercion, undue influence, allurement, fraudulent means or marriage. The Bill provides for imprisonment of up to life, fines of at least Rs 50,000, and compensation of up to Rs 5 lakh to victims.

Under the proposed law, a marriage would be declared void if it is found to have been solemnised solely for the purpose of unlawful conversion, or if the conversion itself was carried out through marriage.

The Bill sets out a graded scheme of punishment. Offenders involved in unlawful conversions, including religious figures such as priests, karmkandis, maulvis or mullas, could face imprisonment of not less than three years, extendable to 10 years. Where the person converted is a minor, a person with disability or mental illness, a woman, or a member of the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, the punishment would be rigorous imprisonment of between five and 14 years, along with a fine of at least Rs 1 lakh.

Chief secretary V Candavelou said the legislation was intended to protect vulnerable persons from being converted through unlawful means. "In order to protect the gullible persons from converting one religion to another by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by fraudulent means, govt has decided to enact a law to provide for prohibition of unlawful conversion from one religion to another by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or fraudulent means, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto," he said.

The Bill allows any person to report a violation and lodge an FIR. "Any information relating to the contravention of the provisions of this Act may be given by any person and the manner of giving such information shall be the same as of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023," it states. Courts have also been empowered to direct the accused to pay compensation of up to Rs 5 lakh to the victim, over and above any fine imposed.

The proposed law also builds in a prior-notice mechanism for voluntary conversions. Anyone intending to change their religion would have to submit a declaration at least 60 days in advance to the district magistrate, or an additional district magistrate authorised for the purpose, affirming that the conversion is voluntary and free of force, coercion, undue influence or allurement. Separately, the person conducting the actual conversion ceremony would be required to give the district magistrate one month's advance notice of the ceremony itself.

Institutions or organisations found violating the Bill's provisions would be denied government financial aid or grants. The Bill, however, carves out an exception for re-conversion to a person's immediate previous religion, clarifying that such re-conversion would not be treated as a "conversion" under the Act.

Explaining the rationale, the cabinet said the legislation was meant to protect the constitutional right to freedom of conscience and religion while simultaneously guarding against unlawful conversion. It noted that while the Constitution guarantees every person the right to profess, practise and propagate their religion, this individual right cannot be read as a collective right to proselytise.

The Bill is expected to be tabled during the three-day monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly, which the governor has summoned beginning Monday.

Inputs from TOI