Civil Society Coalition Opposes Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act Ahead of Rollout
The Joint Civil Society on Monday opposed the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, describing it as a serious threat to Constitutional freedoms, privacy, and social harmony, just days before the legislation takes effect on August 28, 2026.
In a formal statement, the coalition said provisions requiring prior notice, declarations, reporting, and police scrutiny for religious conversions would place matters of faith, marriage, and personal choice under intrusive State oversight. The group demanded that the implementation scheduled for August 28 be withdrawn or placed on hold pending the Supreme Court's consideration of challenges against similar anti-conversion laws in other states.
The coalition raised concerns regarding third-party complaints, the reversal of the burden of proof, cognisable and non-bailable offences, and a broad definition of "allurement." It argued that this broad definition could bring legitimate charitable, educational, and religious activities under scrutiny while disproportionately impacting women, young adults, Dalits, and Adivasis by curbing their personal autonomy.
Prominent figures who spoke against the Act included advocate Irfan Engineer, advocate Lara Jesani, Tushar Gandhi, retired Justice Abhay Thipsay, Father Frazer Mascarenhas, and Sandhya Gokhale.
Father Frazer Mascarenhas questioned whether affordable education and religious healing practices would be categorised as inducement under the law. He noted that healing services are part of Christian practices and warned that requiring individuals to prove non-inducement under third-party allegations would harm religious bodies and the poor communities they assist.
Sandhya Gokhale stated that the law undermines the autonomy of consenting adults, particularly women, in deciding their relationships and faith. She questioned government intervention in religious choice and argued that individuals should be free to decide their faith upon turning 18.
The group pointed out that Pune police had recently invoked the Act in two FIRs before its scheduled commencement date, though police later removed those provisions after the State government officially notified August 28 as the rollout date.
Warning that the law could reinforce narratives around "love jihad" and enable vigilante interference, the coalition stated that Christian organisations have faced approximately 30 incidents of harassment and attacks in the greater Mumbai region over the past eight months.
The Joint Civil Society includes organisations such as the People’s Union for Civil Liberties, Mumbai For Peace, The Bombay Catholic Sabha, Association for Protection of Civil Rights, Maharashtra Stree Mukti Parishad, Forum Against Oppression of Women, Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, Students Islamic Organisation of India, and Fridays for Future Mumbai, among others.
