Allahabad High Court orders compensation for sisters confined after religious conversion

The Allahabad High Court has ordered the Uttar Pradesh government and the father of two women to jointly pay ₹25 lakh in compensation for the unlawful confinement of the sisters. The women, aged 20 and 35, had converted from Hinduism to Islam and were subsequently detained in their paternal home against their will.

Justice Sandeep Jain ruled that the sisters' confinement constituted an “exceptionally grave and egregious violation of constitutional rights.” The court found that the women had voluntarily embraced Islam for spiritual reasons and were not acting under coercion, fraud, or undue influence. The judge emphasized that as adults, the women possess the constitutional right to autonomy regarding their faith, residence, and personal associations.

The court rejected arguments from the State government suggesting the conversion was part of a conspiracy against national sovereignty. The ruling stated that mere apprehensions regarding the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act do not justify the continued detention of adult citizens. The court has ordered the father to return all personal documents and belongings to the women within seven days and directed the State to ensure their protection.