Supreme Court Seeks Responses from Centre, 12 States on PIL Challenging Anti-Conversion Laws

New Delhi, February 02, 2026: The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses from the Centre and 12 states, including Rajasthan and Arunachal Pradesh, on a fresh public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) challenging the constitutional validity of their respective anti-conversion laws.

Appearing for the NCCI, senior advocate Meenakshi Arora also urged the Court to stay the operation of the impugned state laws. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of the submissions and directed the Centre and the concerned state governments to file their responses within four weeks.

The bench ordered that the fresh pleas be tagged with similar petitions already pending before the Court. Observing the significance of the matter, the Chief Justice said the cases would be heard together by a three-judge bench.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, submitted that similar petitions challenging state anti-conversion laws were already pending before the Supreme Court. He informed the bench that the Centre’s reply was ready and would be filed shortly.

Arora pointed out that Odisha and Rajasthan had enacted separate anti-conversion laws that were not challenged in earlier petitions. She also said amendments to other statutes remained unchallenged. “Let me serve all the standing counsels,” she submitted.

The bench issued notice and directed that copies of the pleas be served on the advocate generals of the states concerned. It further directed the Centre and the 12 states to file a common counter affidavit within four weeks.

The Court also took note of the submission that certain state laws allegedly incentivise vigilante groups to file complaints against so-called religious conversions, resulting in a surge of cases. Opposing the argument, the Solicitor General contended that the laws were covered by a five-judge Constitution Bench judgment.

Besides the Centre, notices were issued to Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh.

Earlier, on September 16, 2025, the apex court had sought the stand of several states on pending pleas seeking a stay on their anti-conversion laws, clarifying that it would consider interim relief after replies were filed.

The Court is hearing multiple petitions challenging the constitutional validity of state laws regulating religious conversions. Advocate Shrishti has been appointed nodal counsel for the petitioners, while advocate Ruchira will coordinate for the respondent states.

The petitions allege that the laws violate Articles 21 and 25 of the Constitution by curbing personal liberty and freedom of religion.

Source: Virdictum