7 hrs ago
Chhattisgarh Anti-Conversion Law Faces High Court Challenge
A group has asked the Chhattisgarh High Court to review a state law about religious conversions.
They say some parts of the law could interfere with people’s freedom to choose and practise a religion.
The law requires people involved in conversions to follow certain steps, including giving public notice.
It also requires conversion facilitators to register and sets out serious penalties for unlawful conversions.
The petitioners want the court to temporarily pause several parts of the law while the case is considered.
They also want protections against places of worship being closed based only on allegations.
The court has asked the state government to respond within three weeks.
The court has not yet ruled on the challenge.
The Chhattisgarh High Court gave the state government three weeks to respond to a petition challenging the 2026 law and rules.
The petition argues that the law infringes freedom of conscience, religious freedom, privacy and personal liberty.
The law requires disclosures and verification procedures, including public notice and an opportunity for objections to proposed conversions.
Petitioners challenge provisions requiring registration of people facilitating conversions and penalties that can include life imprisonment and fines up to Rs 10 lakh.
They are seeking interim stays on several requirements and safeguards against closures of places of worship, surveillance and coercive action.
- Who
- Petitioners challenging the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 2026; the state government has been asked to respond.
- What
- The Chhattisgarh High Court set a three-week deadline for the state’s response to a constitutional challenge and requests for interim relief.
- Where
- Chhattisgarh, India.
- When
- The law passed the state Assembly in March 2026 and received the Governor’s assent in April 2026; the court has now allowed three weeks for the response.
- Why
- The petitioners argue that the law’s conversion procedures and enforcement provisions violate constitutional freedoms and other rights.
Petitioners
Law’s requirements
Conversion procedures
Petitioners
The petitioners argue that requiring public disclosures, prior notice and multiple clearances makes voluntary conversion cumbersome and intrudes on freedom of conscience and religion.
Law’s requirements
The law requires people seeking to convert and those facilitating conversions to follow prescribed disclosure and verification procedures, including public notice and an opportunity for objections.
Enforcement and penalties
Petitioners
The petitioners say the law risks arbitrary closures of religious places and seek protection from coercive action, surveillance and profiling without a specific lawful investigation.
Law’s requirements
The law provides for registration of conversion facilitators and penalties for unlawful conversion, including imprisonment and fines; the article does not report the state’s response to the challenge.
Key facts
- Law challenged
- Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, and its accompanying rules
- Court deadline
- Three weeks for the state government to respond on interim relief
- Assembly passage
- March 2026
- Governor’s assent
- April 2026
- Maximum fine cited
- Up to Rs 10 lakh
- Imprisonment cited
- At least seven years, extendable to life, for specified criminal provisions
- Interim relief sought
- A pause on selected notice, inquiry, verification and enforcement provisions
Quotes
Harshmander Rastogi
Advocate who filed the petition
“The court has asked the state government to file their response on the interim relief within three weeks”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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