Allahabad High Court Orders Production of Two Women Who Converted to Islam

The Allahabad High Court, hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by two adult sisters aged 20 and 35, directed the Uttar Pradesh police to produce them before the court. The sisters claim they voluntarily renounced Hinduism, embraced Islam, and intend to marry partners of their choice. They allege their father filed a false FIR and, with police assistance, illegally confined them to prevent these decisions.

Justice Sandeep Jain noted that any interference with the sisters' choices would infringe their constitutionally protected rights to dignity, privacy, personal liberty and decisional autonomy. The court ordered the police to present the women by August 6 and, if they fail to do so, to file affidavits explaining the reasons. Because the conversion was voluntary, the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, does not apply.