The Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act came into operation in 2018, a year after the Bharatiya Janata Party government took over power in the state. The 2022 amendment made the offence cognisable and non-bailable, with a higher fine and a penalty of three to 10 years of imprisonment. Yet complaints under UFRA have increased since the 2022 amendment, indicating the state’s eagerness to prosecute personal choices if they involve religion. Bullying, deception or coercion are certainly not acceptable, whether they happen in matters of conversion or in any other sphere. The five cases under UFRA that have gone to full trial have all culminated in acquittals.

Source: The Telegraph February 05, 2026 17:43 UTC