Allahabad high court frees man to live with Muslim partner after conversion row

SHAMLI: Allahabad high court on Wednesday freed a 31-year-old Shamli man, saying he is at liberty to live wherever and with whomever he chose after he alleged that his father had kept him under illegal restraint over his conversion to Islam and decision to marry a Muslim woman.HC held that "an adult's choice of religion and life partner is protected by Constitution and cannot be overridden merely because it is unacceptable to his family".Justice Sandeep Jain passed the order on a habeas corpus petition filed by Ayush Malik's friend, Sultan, who had alleged that Malik was being unlawfully confined by his father, Devraj Singh Malik, with the connivance of police.HC had termed the allegations "serious" on Sept 9 and directed state authorities and Devraj to produce Malik before it, following which a sub-inspector from Kotwali police station, Shamli, brought him to court on Wednesday.Malik told HC that he was a BPharma graduate and had voluntarily embraced Islam in 2014 without coercion, pressure or inducement, and had since followed the faith despite his parents' opposition."I embraced Islam of my own free will and I want to marry Chandni Qureshi. Nobody has forced or pressured me," he told HC, while alleging that he had been threatened and kept under house arrest since June 4.The dispute had earlier led Devraj to lodge an FIR at Kotwali police station on June 6 against Qureshi, her relatives and others under Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, along with provisions of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.Qureshi and her father, Islam Qureshi, were arrested in the case and remained in jail until District and Sessions Judge, Shamli, granted them bail on July 24.Devraj disputed his son's version before HC and maintained that Malik had been "influenced or brainwashed", saying he opposed both the conversion and proposed marriage because he did not believe they were in his son's interest.Justice Jain said Malik, being an adult, was competent to make decisions concerning his faith, residence and marriage and found no material to disbelieve his statement.Invoking Article 25 (freedom of conscience and religion) and Article 21 (life and personal liberty) of Constitution, HC held that there was no lawful justification to continue any restraint on him.The court allowed Malik to reside wherever and with whomever he chose, practise the religion of his choice and take decisions regarding marriage in accordance with law, and disposed of the habeas corpus petition.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Meerut | Silver Rate in Meerut | Bank Holidays in Meerut | Public Holidays in Meerut | Meerut AQI | Weather in Meerut | Petrol Price in Meerut | Diesel Price in Meerut | CNG Price in Meerut | LPG Price in MeerutStay updated with the latest Meerut news. Download the TOI App.