India, March 14 -- A bill tabled in the Maharashtra assembly on Friday provides for declaring marriages deemed to be solemnised for "unlawful conversions" as null and void, and says children born from such unions will belong to the religion of the mother before the marriage, and their custody shall remain with them.

Minister of state for home Pankaj Bhoyar tabled the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill and it is expected to be taken up for discussion on Monday.

The bill says a child born out of such a wedlock will have succession rights to the property of both parents in accordance with the prevailing laws applicable to them. "The child shall be entitled to maintenance as per the provisions of section 144 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Surak...