The Allahabad High Court ruled that a man cannot be detained for converting to Islam or marrying against his family's wishes, as reported by Bar and Bench.
On Wednesday, the Allahabad High Court made a significant ruling in favor of a 31-year-old man named Ayush Malik who converted from Hinduism to Islam. The court upheld his freedom to choose his religion and marriage partner, stating that these choices were made voluntarily without any coercion or undue influence. Justice Sandeep Jain dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed by Malik’s friend, which allows authorities to bring a person before the court to verify detention. The petition highlighted the man's marriage to a Muslim woman against the wishes of his family, which led to the filing of a first information report under the 2021 Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act. The High Court held that an adult’s choice of whom to marry is a matter of individual autonomy and personal liberty, and that such choices cannot be infringed upon by family or state authorities without due cause.
Justice Jain noted that Ayush Malik had voluntarily embraced Islam and that such decision was neither induced nor occasioned by any threat, coercion, undue influence or pressure. He further stated that there was no lawful justification for his continued restraint and allowed him to reside at his place of choice.
The court made the observations while dismissing a habeas corpus petition filed by Malik’s friend. A habeas corpus is a petition through which courts can order the authorities to bring a person before it to verify if they have been detained.
Source:
Scroll.in
