The Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1988

 

 

 
THE 

JHARKHAND GAZETTE  

EXTRAORDINARY  
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY 

 
        3 Falgun, 1939 (S) 

Ranchi, Thursday, 22nd  February, 2018 

 

Home, Prison and Disaster Management Department 
---------------- 

Notification 

                    19 February, 2018 
 

 

 

No.-08/misc.(01)-53/2017—7295-- Ranchi, Dated-19.12.2017...In exercise of the powers 
conferred to sub section-8 of the Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Act, 2017 the Governor of the 
state of Jharkhand hereby makes the Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Rules, 2017, namely-  
 

1. Short title. 
 
(1) These rules may be called the Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Rules, 2017. 

  
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the official Gazette. 
 

 

2. Definitions 
 

(1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires, 
 
(a) “Act” means the Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Act, 2017  

(b)“Form” means form appended to these rules; 

(c) “Government” means the Government of Jharkhand; and 

(d) “State” means the State of Jharkhand. 

(e) “Organization” means a body of persons authorized by religious institutions which 

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Jharkhand Gazette (Extraordinary), Thursday, 22nd  February, 2018 

 

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expound spiritual thoughts of different religions and outside the country; 

(f) “Religious Institutions” means different religious authorities, which expound 

religious thoughts in the country and abroad; 

(g) “Investigation” shall have the same meaning as is defined under section 2 (h) of 

the Code of Criminal Procedure. 

(h) “Victim” means aggrieved person who has been forcibly converted from one 

religion/religious faith to another religion/religious faith by any allurement, force, 

fraud, under influence.  

(2) All the words and expressions used but not defined in these rules shall have the 

same meaning as is respectively assigned in the Act.  

3. Notice and prior permission before conversion 
 
(1) Whoever / religious priest, converts any person from one religion/religions faith to 

another shall give a notice to the District  Magistrate  of  the  District  in  which  he  is  

permanently  resident,  15 days prior  to  such conversion, in Form A attached to the 

rule and obtain prior permission before conversion from  District  Magistrate  of  the  

District  in  which  he  is  permanently  resident. 

(2) The District Magistrate  shall cause all notices received under sub-rule (1) of rule 3 

to be entered in a Register of Notices and get the matter enquired into by such 

agency as he may deem fit and record his findings as regards the particulars of notice 

given: 
 

Provided that the person giving notice and any other person likely to be prejudicially 

affected shall be given adequate opportunity to associate himself with any such enquiry. 
 

On receipt of the application made under sub-rule (1) in Form A, the District 

Magistrate shall put his signature thereon indicating the date and time of receipt of 

such application. An acknowledgement for the receipt of the application shall be 

given in Form B. 
 

 

 

4. Information after conversion to District Magistrate 

(1) The person converted from one religion/religions faith to another shall give 

intimation to the District Magistrate of  the District in which the ceremony of 

conversion has taken place of the fact of such conversion within seven days of such 

conversion, in Form C attached to the rule. 
 

 



Jharkhand Gazette (Extraordinary), Thursday, 22nd  February, 2018 

 

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5. Power of District Magistrate to inspect the record of the religious  institutions and 
organizations:- 
 
The District Magistrate shall have power to inspect the premises and record of the 

religious institutions and organizations at any time when ever required or the thinks fit 

for such inspection. 

6. List of religious institutions and organizations 
 
(1) Each District Magistrate shall maintain a list of religious institutions or organizations 

propagating religious faith in his/her district and that of persons directly or indirectly 

engaged for propagation of religious faith in the district. 

(2) The District Magistrate, if he thinks appropriate, may call for a list of persons with 

the religious faith, receiving benefits either in cash or from, from the religious 

institutions or organization or from any person concerned therewith.  

 

7. Inquiries in other cases 
 
Where on the basis of any complaint or any information laid before him, the District 

Magistrate is of the opinion, for reasons to be recorded 

(a)  that force or inducement have been used or is likely to be used in any conversion within 

the local limits of his jurisdiction; or 

(b) that a conversion has taken place without notice in contravention of the provisions of 

this Act, he may cause  an inquiry  to be made  in the matter  and proceed  in the manner  

as provided in Rule 3. 

Every such complaint so received shall be entered in the Register of Notices and Complaints 

of conversion in Form D. 

 
8. Registration and Investigation of Case. 

 
(1) If after enquiry the District Magistrate records a finding that a conversion has taken 

place or is likely to take place through the use of force or inducement or without the 

requisite notice, he shall enter the particulars of the case in the Register of Forced 

Conversion in Form D and refer the case along with all material adduced during the 

course of the enquiry to the Police Station in which the person is resident or where the 

conversion is intended or done for registration of a case and its investigation 

(2) An offence under this Act shall be investigated by a police officer not below the rank 

of Inspector of Police. 

(3) The investigating officer so appointed under rule 8 (1) shall complete the 



Jharkhand Gazette (Extraordinary), Thursday, 22nd  February, 2018 

 

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investigation on top priority and submit charge sheet within a period of sixty days. 
 

 

9. Sanction for Prosecution. 
If after investigating the matter, it appears that an offence under this rule has been 

committed, the Investigating Officer shall place all relevant material before the authority 

empowered and such sanction shall be granted or refused within a period of 7 days, giving 

reasons in writing. 

10. Submission of report to the Government. 
 

The District Magistrate of the each district in the State shall on the 10th of 

each month send to the State Government a report of intimations received 

by him in this respect during the preceding month in Forms E & F, as the 

case may be. 

10.  Compensation 
 
Any person within the meaning of victim under this rule will be entitled to compensation, 

within the meaning of Jharkhand Victim Compensation Scheme, 2016. 

 

By the order of Governor of Jharkhand] 
 
 

S.K.G.Rahate, 
Principal Secretary to Government. 

     
 

 
 



Jharkhand Gazette (Extraordinary), Thursday, 22nd  February, 2018 

 

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              FORM A 

Intimation regarding conversion from one religious faith to another 

To, 

    The District Magistrate, 

     District_______ 

  Sir, 

       I, as a religious priest intend to perform necessary ceremony for conversion of 

Shri __________ son of ________  Resident of village/ Muhalla ________, Post Office 

______, Police Station_____, District__________ from ________religious faith to 

_______ religious faith, do hereby, give intimation of conversion as required by sub-

rule of Rule 3(1) of the Jharkhand Freedom of Religious Rules, 2017 as follows: 

  1. Name of the person to be converted________ 

  2. Name of the father/ husband of the person to be converted_____ 

  3. Address of the person to be converted: 

       Village/ Muhalla_____ 

       House No._____, Ward No.____ 

       Post Office_______ 

       Police Station_____ 

       District_______ 

  4.  Age_____ 

  5.  Sex_____ 

   6.  Nationality_______ 

  7.  Occupation of the person to be converted________ 

  8.  Monthly income of the person to be converted_________  

  9.  Whether married or unmarried________ 

10.   If a minor, name and full address of the guardian_____ 

11.  Name of the persons, if any, dependent upon the person to be converted______ 

12. Whether belongs to Scheduled caste or Scheduled Tribe and if so particulars of 

such Caste/ Tribe________ 

13.  Address of the place where the conversion ceremony has to take place_______ 

14.  Proposed date of conversion________ 

15.  Name and address of the person other than the priest who will perform the 

conversion ceremony__________________  

16.  Name and address of at least two persons other than the priest giving intimation 

to remain present at the time of conversion ceremony:(a)______________ 

                          (b)_____________ 

                              

       Signature of the priest 

      Verification 

  I, the undersigned do hereby declare that the facts and particulars stated above are 

true to the best of my knowledge and belief. 

Place:_________ 

Date:_________ 

Signature of the priest:______________ 

 

 

 



Jharkhand Gazette (Extraordinary), Thursday, 22nd  February, 2018 

 

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              FORM B 

  Received intimation under Rule 3(2) of the Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Riles, 

2017 from Shri ___________, son of ____________, resident 

of ___________ with respect to conversion of  Shri  

____________, Son of _____________,resident of 

_________from religious faith to religious faith___________. 

 

          Dated:       Signature 

             District Magistrate 

FORM C 

Register of conversion 

1. Name of the person to be converted________ 

  2. Name of the father/ husband of the person to be converted_____ 

  3. Address of the person to be converted: 

       Village/ Muhalla_____ 

       House No._____, Ward No.____ 

       Post Office_______ 

       Police Station_____ 

       District_______ 

  4.  Age_____ 

  5.  Sex_____ 

   6.  Nationality_______ 

  7.  Occupation of the person to be converted________ 

  8.  Monthly income of the person to be converted_________  

  9.  Whether married or unmarried________ 

10.   If a minor, name and full address of the guardian_____ 

11.  Name of the persons, if any, dependent upon the person to be converted______ 

12. Whether belongs to Scheduled caste or Scheduled Tribe and if so particulars of 

such Caste/ Tribe________ 

13.  Address of the place where the conversion ceremony has to take place_______ 

14.  Proposed date of conversion________ 

15.  Name and address of the person other than the priest who will perform the 

conversion ceremony__________________  

16.  Name and address of at least two persons other than the priest giving intimation 

to remain present at the time of conversion ceremony:(a)______________ 

                          (b)_____________ 

                              

       Signature of the priest 

      Verification 

  I, the undersigned do hereby declare that the facts and particulars stated above are 

true to the best of my knowledge and belief. 

Place:_________ 

Date:_________ 

Signature of the priest:______________ 

 

 

 



Jharkhand Gazette (Extraordinary), Thursday, 22nd  February, 2018 

 

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              FORM B 

  Received intimation under Rule 3(2) of the Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Riles, 

2017 from Shri ___________, son of ____________, resident 

of ___________ with respect to conversion of  Shri  

____________, Son of _____________,resident of 

_________from religious faith to religious faith___________. 

 

          Dated:       Signature 

             District Magistrate 

 

 

FORM C 

Register of conversion 

1. Name of the person converted_________ 

2. Father’s name of the person converted ___________ 

3. Address of the persons converted with full details: village______, House No.______, Ward 

No._______,Mohalla, Post Office_______, Police Station_______, District_______. 

4. Age______ 

5. Ssex______ 

6. Occupation and monthly income of the person converted___________ 

7. Whether married or unmarried___________ 

8. Name of the person(s), if any, dependent upon the person converted_________ 

9. In case of minor, name and full address of the guardian___________ 

10. Whether belongs to Scheduled Case or Scheduled Tribe and if so, particulars of such Caste or 

Tribe_____ 

11. Name and address of the place where conversion has taken place _____________ 

12. Date of conversion______ 

13. Name and address  of the priest/person who has performed the conversion 

ceremony__________ 

14. Name of at least two persons other than the priest/the persons giving intimation, present at the 

time of conversion ceremony__________ 

 

 

Signature of the converted person 

 
 

 

 

 

  



Jharkhand Gazette (Extraordinary), Thursday, 22nd  February, 2018               8 

 

FORM D (see rule 8 & 9) 
REGISTER OF FORCED CONVERSION 

 
Date of 

receipt of 

notice or 

complaint 

Name and 

address of 

the person 

giving 

notice or 

making 

complaint 

Father’s 

name 
Name and 

full address 

of the 

person 

converting 

Age Sex Occupation 

and monthly 

income of 

the person 

converted 

Whether 

married 

or un- 

married 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 
 

 
Name of 

persons, if 

any, 

dependent 

upon the 

person 

converted 

If a minor, 

name and 

full address 

of the 

guardian, if 

any 

Whether 

belongs to 

Scheduled 

Caste or 

Scheduled 

Tribe and if 

so, particulars 

of such 

Caste or 

Tribe 

Findings of 

the inquiry 

in brief 

Date, if 

referred to 

Police Station 

under 

section 8 & 

9 

Date of 

prosecution 

sanction, if 

any or 

reasons for 

refusal 

Verdict of 

court with 

date 

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
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Printed & Published by the Superintendent of Jharkhand Government Press, Doranda, Ranchi. 

Jharkhand Gazette (Extraordinary) 136 -- 50.