3 Things Uttarakhand's conversion law cases, new Manipur CM, and Ghaziabad suicides
Feb 6, 2026
Sukrita Barua, an Indian Express reporter on Manipur politics, discusses the state’s shift from President's rule to a new, inclusive government and ongoing ethnic tensions. Aishwarya Raj, an Indian Express journalist covering Uttarakhand legal affairs, examines changes to the Freedom of Religion Act, patterns in coercion and conversion cases, courtroom outcomes, and how procedures affect interfaith couples.
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UFRA's Scope And Severity
- Uttarakhand's Freedom of Religion Act (UFRA) expanded punishments and broadened who counts as a victim, scaling jail terms up to life in amendments.
- The 2025 amendment was returned by the governor and is currently on hold despite harsher penalties.
Trials Collapse Without Proof
- Of five UFRA trials examined by The Indian Express, all ended in acquittals due to lack of evidence establishing coercion or allurement.
- Courts repeatedly reaffirmed fundamental rights like freedom to profess and propagate religion when evidence was absent.
Consensual Relationships Mischaracterized
- Courts found alleged 'forced conversions' often reflected consensual interfaith relationships rather than coercion.
- Judges cited lack of allurement or kidnapping evidence and treated many cases as private relationships.