Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Chhattisgarh Anti-Conversion Law Faces High Court Challenge
A group has asked the Chhattisgarh High Court to review a state law about religious conversions.
The law also has accompanying rules.
The group says the law could interfere with people’s freedom to choose and practise a religion.
It challenges requirements such as public notice, disclosures and government checks, even for voluntary conversions.
The law also requires people who help with conversions to register.
It sets serious punishments for unlawful conversions.
The petitioners want the court to pause some rules and protect people and places of worship from certain actions while the case is considered.
The court has asked the state government to respond within three weeks, but it has not yet ruled on the challenge.
Petitioners have challenged the constitutional validity of Chhattisgarh’s 2026 Freedom of Religion Act and accompanying rules.
The Chhattisgarh High Court has given the state government three weeks to respond to requests for interim relief.
The petition argues that public notices, disclosures and government clearances burden even voluntary religious conversions.
Petitioners challenge provisions requiring conversion facilitators to register and setting penalties of at least seven years’ imprisonment, potentially life, and fines up to Rs 10 lakh.
They seek temporary stays on several procedures and safeguards against alleged arbitrary closures, coercive action and surveillance.
- 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.
- When
- The Act passed the state Assembly in March 2026 and received the Governor’s assent in April 2026; the court allowed three weeks for the response.
- Where
- Chhattisgarh, India.
- Why
- The petitioners argue that the law’s conversion procedures and enforcement provisions violate constitutional rights, including freedom of conscience, religious freedom, privacy and personal liberty.
Petitioners’ arguments
Law’s provisions
Conversion procedures
Petitioners’ arguments
The petitioners argue that state approval, public notice, disclosures and multiple clearances burden voluntary conversions and intrude on constitutional freedoms.
Law’s provisions
The law requires people seeking to convert and those facilitating conversions to follow disclosure and verification procedures, including public notice and an opportunity for objections.
Enforcement and safeguards
Petitioners’ arguments
The petitioners allege that the law has been used to arbitrarily close religious places and seek protection from certain closures, coercive action, inquiries and surveillance.
Law’s provisions
The law requires conversion facilitators to register and prescribes penalties for unlawful conversion. The articles do not report the state government’s response to the petition.
- Laws challenged
- Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, and Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Rules, 2026
- Court
- Chhattisgarh High Court
- Response deadline
- Three weeks for the state government to respond to the request for interim relief
- Assembly passage
- March 2026
- Governor’s assent
- April 2026
- Penalties challenged
- At least seven years’ imprisonment, extendable to life, and fines up to Rs 10 lakh
- Interim relief sought
- A pause on selected notice, inquiry, verification and enforcement provisions
