The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) has moved the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2025. The petition came up before the court on December 8, when the bench issued notice to the state government and linked the case with several ongoing challenges to anti-conversion laws from other states.

In its plea, the CBCI argues that the new Rajasthan law grants excessive and arbitrary powers to administrative authorities. It points out that certain provisions allow officials to confiscate property or even demolish structures of individuals or institutions accused of facilitating unlawful conversions — all without the need for a prior judicial determination of guilt. According to the petitioners, such provisions violate the principle of due process and enable punitive actions based merely on suspicion.

The Church body has also questioned the language of the law, which prohibits conversion achieved through a broad list of means, including “allurement,” “misinformation,” or “any other fraudulent method.” The petition contends that these terms are so vague that they could be misused to target voluntary religious decisions or peaceful religious expression. It warns that ordinary acts of faith, charity, or pastoral work could be misconstrued as coercion.

Another major concern highlighted is the cumbersome procedure imposed on anyone intending to convert. The law requires individuals and religious leaders to file advance declarations with district authorities, failure of which could result in heavy fines and imprisonment. The CBCI argues that this compels people to disclose deeply personal choices to the state, infringing upon privacy and autonomy. They have also raised objections to the reverse burden of proof, claiming it shifts the responsibility onto the accused to prove that a conversion was not forced a stance they say contradicts fundamental principles of criminal justice.

By bringing the case to the Supreme Court, the CBCI joins multiple petitioners across India who have questioned whether anti-conversion laws, often justified as measures against forced conversions, are being used to restrict legitimate religious activity. The petition states that the Rajasthan law violates core constitutional rights, including equality before the law, freedom of expression, personal liberty, freedom of religion, and the right to property.

As similar challenges remain pending from other states, the Supreme Court’s eventual decision is likely to shape how far governments can go in regulating religious conversions, and whether the current legal trend withstands constitutional scrutiny. The outcome is expected to have far-reaching implications for religious freedom, minority rights, and the balance of power between citizens and the state.

Source: India Legal Live