PANAJI: The Goa government on Monday decided not to table the controversial religious conversion Bill in the ongoing monsoon session of the Goa Legislative Assembly, following strong opposition from within the ruling side and a backlash from opposition parties.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was scheduled to introduce The Goa Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2026 in the House on the opening day of the session. However, minutes before the Assembly proceedings commenced, Sawant held a meeting with Catholic MLAs from the ruling side and decided against moving the legislation.
Independent MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco said the government had decided not to table the Bill during the monsoon session, adding that MLAs, including those from the ruling side, had raised strong objections to it.
The proposed legislation was subsequently removed from the Business List of the Assembly.
The Cabinet had cleared the Bill last week, but its proposed introduction triggered opposition, with political parties alleging that it could divide society and fuel communal tensions.
The Bill sought to prohibit religious conversions allegedly carried out through force, coercion, undue influence, allurement, fraudulent means or marriage. It proposed stringent punishment, including imprisonment of up to life and a minimum fine of Rs 50,000, along with compensation of up to Rs 5 lakh for victims.
The proposed law also sought to declare a marriage void if it was found to have been solemnised solely for the purpose of unlawful conversion or if conversion was carried out through marriage.
Those facilitating unlawful conversions, including religious figures such as priests, karmkandis, maulvis or mullas, could face imprisonment of three to 10 years.
The Bill proposed enhanced punishment where the person converted was a minor, woman, person with disability or mental illness, or a member of the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes.
