Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill 2026 Proposes 10-Year Jail, ₹7 Lakh Fine for Coercive Conversions

Maharashtra Tightens Minority Status Approval: IAS Oversight, Multi-Dept Vetting, Periodic Reviews

The Reddy committee report recommends structural overhaul of minority status approval for educational institutions in Maharashtra, introducing IAS supervision, multi-department scrutiny, and post-grant periodic reviews. The new SOP, expected by end of August 2026, aims to address irregularities in the approval process.

Maharashtra Panel Recommends BNS Amendment for Social Media Defamation After 11 Years of 66A

A Maharashtra government committee has recommended amending the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) to specifically criminalize defamatory social media posts, 11 years after the Supreme Court struck down Section 66A of the IT Act. The move aims to tackle online defamation while incorporating safeguards against misuse, but faces legal scrutiny over potential conflict with free speech rights under Article 19(1)(a).

Supreme Court Strikes Down Maharashtra’s Methanol Denaturing Rules as Unconstitutional: Violates Articles 14 & 19(1)(g)

Supreme Court struck down Maharashtra's Rules 18A & 18B of the Poisons Rules mandating colourant/bitterant in methanol, holding them disproportionate and violative of Articles 14 and 19(1)(g). The court also issued detailed guidelines to prevent hooch tragedies. This judgment is critical for understanding proportionality test and state regulation of industrial poisons.

2.08 Crore Maharashtra Voters May Be Left Out of Aug 24 SIR Draft Roll Due to Enumeration Gap

Over 2.08 crore (21.25%) of Maharashtra's 9.79 crore voters may be excluded from the August 24 draft electoral roll due to uncollected enumeration forms during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). This is a draft and voters have until September 23 to seek inclusion. The issue is acute in urban districts like Thane, Mumbai, and Pune.

Special Intensive Revision: 43.7% Voters Untraceable in 25 Urban Maharashtra Seats

Maharashtra's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls after 24 years reveals that over 40% of voters in 25 urban constituencies could not be traced, threatening their inclusion in the draft roll. This highlights systemic issues in urban voter registration and the challenges of maintaining accurate electoral rolls in high-mobility areas.

Uttarakhand Waqf Board Proposes Revised Nikahnama Aligned with UCC; Interfaith Marriages under Special Marriage Act

Over 1.5 years after Uttarakhand implemented the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the State Waqf Board has proposed a revised nikahnama to bring Muslim marriage registrations in line with the new law. The proposal bans conversions solely for marriage and mandates interfaith couples to register under the Special Marriage Act, marking a significant step in UCC implementation.

SC Rules Cinema Halls Private Property, Upholds Food Pricing Freedom in Multiplexes

The Supreme Court's 2023 ruling in KC Cinema vs JK holds multiplexes as private property, allowing owners to set food prices and ban outside food. Despite public outcry over exorbitant prices (popcorn ₹340-₹570), the Legal Metrology Department can only check MRP compliance, not fix prices.

Centre Proposes Article 371(K) for Ladakh: Directly Elected Body with Legislative Powers

The Centre has proposed adding Article 371(K) to the Constitution to grant Ladakh a directly elected governing body with legislative powers over land, culture, forests, and natural resources. This marks a potential shift from the Sixth Schedule model used in the Northeast and is the first such special provision for a Union Territory. The proposal remains a draft, with key powers like police and finance still under negotiation.