Asia

INDIA'S CHRISTIAN DEMOLITION LAW: Supreme Court Challenges Christian Persecution

Michael Ringer

23 Nov 2025 — 3 min read

India's Supreme Court issued notice on Monday, November 17th, to the Rajasthan government regarding a petition challenging the state's anti conversion law, which allows officials to demolish homes and seize property based on mere allegations of forcible conversion.

The petition filed by the Jaipur Catholic Welfare Society challenges the definition of "conversion," "allurement," "force," "coercion," "misinformation," and "online solicitation."

It also challenges prison terms and prior declarations required to submit to the district magistrate to convert. Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta directed the state to file replies within four weeks.

The Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act 2025 was passed by the state assembly on September 9th, received the governor's assent on October 3rd, and came into force on October 29th.

The law permits the forfeiture of property where unlawful conversion is merely alleged, following an inquiry by a gazetted officer rather than judicial authorities.

Section 10(3) empowers the state government to permanently cancel registration or licenses of institutions found violating any provision of the Act, confiscate their property, freeze financial accounts, and impose penalties of 10 million Indian Rupees, or $112,713 USD.

Section 12 makes properties where forcible conversions allegedly take place liable to forfeiture and confiscation by the district magistrate. Section 13 provides for demolition of structures following inquiry by any gazetted officer, requiring only a show cause notice returnable within 15 days before demolition proceeds.

One of the law's most controversial provisions exempts "reconversion" to one's ancestral religion from all penalties and procedures. Hindu nationalist groups interpret this as legitimizing conversion to Hinduism while criminalizing conversion to Christianity or Islam.

The legal challenge comes after a wave of violence against Christians erupted in Rajasthan following passage of the anti conversion bill in September. Morning Star News documented nine incidents of harassment and assault in September alone, including an attack on the Hindustan Bible Institute in Jaipur where about 50 members of the Hindu extremist Bajrang Dal baselessly accused officials of fraudulent conversion, leading to police detention and confiscation of electronic devices.

Rajasthan joined 11 other Indian states with anti conversion laws under the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party government. Since the BJP came to power in 2014, incidents of violence and harassment against Christians have increased dramatically, jumping from just over 100 in 2014 to more than 800 in 2024. Christians comprise just 2.3 percent of India's 1.4 billion people.

THE CRUSADER'S OPINION

This is state sponsored persecution with a legal veneer.

India's Hindu nationalist government has turned conversion allegations into demolition orders, property confiscation, and life imprisonment.

The law doesn't prevent forced conversion. It criminalizes Christianity itself.

Bureaucrats can bulldoze churches and seize homes based on nothing more than accusations. No trial. No evidence. Just allegations and demolition within 72 hours.

Meanwhile, "reconversion" to Hinduism faces zero penalties. The discrimination couldn't be more blatant.

This is what happens when religious nationalism captures state power and weaponizes the law against minorities.

India claims to be the world's largest democracy while persecuting 2.3 percent of its population for following Christ.

The Supreme Court must strike down this abomination. Religious freedom dies when the state can demolish your home for sharing the Gospel.

Western governments kowtowing to India for trade deals should demand immediate repeal of these laws.

TAKE ACTION

Support persecuted Indian Christians:

International Christian Concern: https://www.persecution.org/donate | 800.422.5441
Voice of the Martyrs: https://www.persecution.com/give | 800.747.0085
Open Doors: https://www.opendoorsusa.org/donate | 888.524.2535

Advocate for religious freedom in India:

US Commission on International Religious Freedom: [email protected]
Contact your government representatives to raise concerns about India's anti conversion laws and their impact on trade relationships
Sign petitions supporting the Supreme Court challenges at International Christian Concern and Evangelical Fellowship of India websites

Pray and inform: