Chapter II Chapter II

Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion

1. (1) No person, acting individually or in collusion with other individual or institution, shall convert or attempt to convert or assist or abet or connive or conspire in converting, either directly or otherwise, any other person from one religion to another religion by,—
   • (a) use or practice of,—
     • (i) allurement,
     • (ii) coercion,
     • (iii) deceit,
     • (iv) force,
     • (v) misrepresentation,
     • (vi) threat,
     • (vii) undue influence, or
     • (viii) any fraudulent means; or
   • (b) solemnization of marriage or relationship in the nature of marriage or by promise of marriage by use or practice of any of the acts mentioned in clause
   • (a) above.
2. (2) Any conversion made in contravention of the provisions of sub-section
3. (1) shall be an offence punishable under this Act.
4. (3) Any conversion made in contravention of the provisions of sub-section
5. (1) shall be null and void.

Any marriage solemnized with the sole purpose of unlawful conversion shall be declared as null and void by the court on a petition presented by either party to the marriage against other party thereto.

1. (1) Any child born out of marriage or relationship in the nature of marriage, caused due to unlawful conversion shall,-
   • (a) be deemed to belong to the religion of mother before such marriage or relationship in the nature of marriage,
   • (b) have succession rights in the property of mother and father as per the prevailing succession laws applicable to the mother and father, and
   • (c) be entitled to maintenance as per the provisions of section 144 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
2. (2) The custody of the child shall be with the mother of the child unless the court decides otherwise.