For churches in Maharashtra
Voluntary Declaration
of Free Will
A printable, signable declaration a worshipper can complete affirming that their attendance is voluntary and free of any inducement — drafted for use alongside the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, which took full effect on 28 August 2026.
Before you use this
This is a general-purpose template, informed by public reporting on the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026 (Dharma Swatantrya Adhiniyam) and on Article 25 of the Constitution of India — it is not legal advice, and no specific section numbers of the Act are cited here because they have not been independently verified against the gazetted text or the Rules made under it.
Have it reviewed and adapted by an advocate enrolled in Maharashtra before formal adoption — costs are modest relative to what this document is meant to protect against, and the Act’s Rules (which govern procedure in more detail) may still be evolving. A line for recording that review is included on the form itself.
Aadhaar photocopies are sensitive personal data. Keep completed forms in a locked, access-controlled location, and do not digitize or transmit them without a clear, lawful reason for doing so.
Executed in the State of Maharashtra
Voluntary Declaration as to Freedom of Conscience
and Absence of Inducement
Made pursuant to Article 25 of the Constitution of India and in contemplation of the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026
WHEREAS Article 25(1) of the Constitution of India guarantees to all persons the equal entitlement to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion, subject only to public order, morality, health and the other provisions of Part III thereof;
WHEREAS the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, in Rev. Stainislaus v. State of Madhya Pradesh, (1977) 1 SCC 677, has authoritatively held that the fundamental right to propagate one’s religion does not confer a right to convert another person by fraud, force, inducement or other improper means, and that the freedom of conscience of the person addressed must remain unimpaired;
WHEREAS the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, in force in the State of Maharashtra with effect from 28 August 2026, penalises the conversion of any person from one religion to another where such conversion is procured by force, coercion, fraud, undue influence, allurement, misrepresentation, or by means of marriage or promise of marriage — and does not restrict, prohibit, or otherwise affect a person’s voluntary attendance at, or participation in, religious worship, teaching, prayer, or fellowship undertaken of that person’s own free will;
WHEREAS the Congregation named below wishes to maintain a contemporaneous, signed and witnessed record affirming that each person attending its services does so voluntarily and without inducement of any kind, for the protection of the Congregation, its pastors, office-bearers and members, and equally for the protection of the declarant’s own constitutionally guaranteed freedom of conscience;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, the undersigned declarant, do hereby solemnly and sincerely affirm, declare and record as follows:
Congregation & Particulars of the Declarant
Name of Church / Congregation
Full Name of Declarant
Son / Daughter / Ward of
Age (Years)
Date of Birth
Permanent Residential Address
Aadhaar Number (12 digits)
Mobile Number
Email (if any)
Religion presently professed, as recorded by the declarant
A photocopy of the declarant’s Aadhaar card is to be annexed hereto as Annexure “A”.
Declarations
Free and Voluntary Attendance. I am attending, and/or have attended, the religious services, prayer meetings, worship, teaching, fellowship or other activities conducted by the Congregation entirely of my own free will, out of my own personal choice, and without any request, direction, pressure or expectation placed upon me by any person whomsoever.
Absence of Inducement or Allurement. I have not been offered, promised, or given any gift, gratification, easy money, material benefit, employment, education, healthcare, or other temptation or allurement of any nature, in cash or in kind, by the Congregation, its pastor(s), office-bearers, or any member thereof, in exchange for or as an inducement toward my attendance, participation, or any change in my religious belief.
Absence of Force, Coercion or Fraud. I have not been subjected to any force, threat, coercion, intimidation, fraud, misrepresentation, or undue influence of any kind by the Congregation, its pastor(s), office-bearers, or any member thereof, in relation to my attendance or participation, nor has any fact been concealed from or misrepresented to me so as to induce my attendance.
No Promise of or Inducement by Marriage. My attendance and participation are not connected with, and have not been procured by means of, any marriage or promise of marriage.
This Declaration Does Not Itself Constitute Conversion. I understand and confirm that mere attendance at, or participation in, religious worship, prayer, teaching or fellowship does not, by itself, constitute a "conversion" from one religion to another, and that I have not, by executing this declaration, undertaken or purported to undertake any formal conversion of my religion. I am aware that, should I at any future time genuinely and voluntarily decide to formally convert my religion, a separate and distinct process applies under the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, including prior intimation to the competent District Magistrate not less than sixty (60) days in advance and compliance with such other procedure as may be prescribed thereunder, and that this declaration is not, and is not intended to be, a substitute for, or in lieu of, any such statutory process.
Continuing and Revocable Nature of Attendance. I understand that my attendance and participation in the activities of the Congregation are entirely voluntary in nature, that I am under no obligation, contractual or otherwise, to continue such attendance, and that I remain free to discontinue the same at my sole discretion at any time, without giving any reason and without any adverse consequence whatsoever.
Sound Mind and Legal Capacity. I am of sound mind and am making this declaration of my own accord, having understood its contents, which have been read over and explained to me in a language I understand. (If the declarant is a minor, this declaration is additionally countersigned by a parent or lawful guardian below.)
Reliance by the Congregation. I am aware that the Congregation, its pastor(s) and office-bearers may rely upon this declaration, and I undertake that the contents hereof are true to my knowledge, and that I shall not, at any subsequent time, without just cause, resile from or repudiate the statements made herein.
Voluntary Submission of Identity Documents. I am voluntarily furnishing a photocopy of my Aadhaar card and a passport-size photograph solely for the purpose of identification and record-keeping in connection with this declaration, and not for any purpose of Aadhaar-based authentication. I understand that the Congregation shall not use my Aadhaar number for any purpose other than identity verification in connection with this declaration, and shall take reasonable care to keep the same confidential and secure in accordance with applicable law, including the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 and the rules made thereunder.
I have read the above declarations, or the same have been read over and explained to me in a language I understand, and having understood the contents thereof, I append my signature below in confirmation of the truth of the statements made herein.
Signature of Declarant
Place
Date
If the declarant is a minor, to be countersigned:
Parent / Guardian Name
Parent / Guardian Signature
In the Presence of the Following Witnesses
Witness 1 — Name
Address
Signature
Witness 2 — Name
Address
Signature
For Official Use of the Congregation
Received By (Name)
Designation
Date Received
Aadhaar photocopy annexed? Yes / No
Record No.
Reviewed by advocate (name & enrolment no.)