Bombay High Court petition challenges Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act on fundamental-rights grounds

Around September 11–14, 2026, Islamic scholar Maulana Halimullah Farooque Ahemed Khan petitioned the Bombay High Court’s principal bench challenging the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, Bar & Bench (September 11) and LiveLaw (September 12) reported. The case caption is Maulana Halimullah Farooque Ahemed Khan v. State of Maharashtra. Counsel is advocate Abdul Mateen Shaikh, LiveLaw said. The petitioner argues that clauses on “allurement,” prior notice of conversion, and penalties chill rights under Articles 14, 19, 21, and 25, and related guarantees including Articles 26 and 29. This brief records a filing. It is not a ruling, and it does not treat the Act as already struck down.

LiveLaw said the plea attacks in particular Sections 2(a), 3, 6, 7, and 9. Section 2(a)’s definition of “allurement,” the petitioner argues, uses open terms such as “better lifestyle” and “divine healing” that could sweep in ordinary teaching, charity, or education. Sections 6 and 7, the same account said, require prior disclosure of an intended conversion and state inquiry; Bar & Bench described a mandatory 60-day notice. Section 9’s penalties, the petitioner says, add a chilling effect. The plea asks the court to strike the provisions or read them down to force, fraud, or coercion that actually vitiates consent. On August 21, Bar & Bench noted, the Nagpur Bench dismissed an earlier challenge for vague pleadings, imposed costs, and left liberty to file a fresh petition after further research. This brief does not recast the case as a Christian-only dispute.