In a significant development, the proposed Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to impose harsher penalties including life imprisonment for forced religious conversions, has hit a roadblock. The state's Governor, Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd), has returned the bill to the government for reconsideration, withholding his crucial approval from the Lok Bhawan.
What Does the Amended Bill Propose?
The bill, which received the state cabinet's nod on August 13, 2025, and was passed by the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly during its monsoon session starting August 19, aims to drastically increase punishments for illegal conversions. The key provisions include:
- Raising the maximum jail term from the existing 10 years to 14 years, extendable to 20 years or even life imprisonment in severe cases.
- Increasing the maximum fine from Rs 50,000 to a hefty Rs 10 lakh.
- Expanding the scope of who can file a complaint. Previously limited to blood relations, the new bill allows any person to lodge a complaint against forced conversions.
- Enhancing punishment for general religious conversion from 2-7 years to 3-10 years of imprisonment.
- Granting District Magistrates (DMs) the power to attach property related to such offences.
The Path to the Governor's Desk and the Current Impasse
After its passage in the assembly session held in Gairsain on August 20, the bill was sent to the Raj Bhavan (Lok Bhawan) for the Governor's assent, the final step to becoming law. However, Governor Gurmit Singh has sent it back. Reports indicate this step was taken due to technical errors identified in the bill's draft. The state's legislative department received the returned bill just a few days ago.
This marks the latest in a series of amendments to the state's anti-conversion law. The original Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act was enacted in 2018. The Pushkar Singh Dhami-led government later implemented the 2022 amendment, which first increased the quantum of punishment. The 2025 bill was introduced to make the law even stricter following reports of conversion cases.
What Happens Next for the Dhami Government?
The ball is now back in the state government's court. It has two primary options to move forward:
- Implement the bill via an ordinance: The government can choose to bring an ordinance to enforce the provisions immediately, bypassing the need for immediate re-passage in the assembly.
- Reintroduce and pass it in the next session: Alternatively, the government can address the technical concerns raised by the Governor and table the revised bill again in the next session of the state assembly for a fresh vote.
The government's next move is being closely watched, as this bill is a key part of its legislative agenda concerning religious matters. The return of the bill underscores the procedural checks in law-making, even for legislation that has cleared the elected assembly.
