The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday disposed of a petition alleging detention of an adult man by his father after his decision to convert to Islam and marriage with a Muslim woman.
The order was passed by Justice Sandeep Jain hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Ayush Malik through his friend Sultan. The high court had on September 9 directed the father to produce his son, the petitioner, before court on September 16. It was submitted before the court that Ayush Malik, 31, of his own free will and volition renounced Hinduism and embraced Islam without any coercion, undue influence or inducement. The aggrieved father lodged a police complaint, leading to an FIR under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, and the BNS against the son’s wife and her relatives at Shamli Police Station.
Disposing of the petition the court said that petitioner Ayush Malik is a major and is free to do what he wishes. The court termed the allegation of detention and the involvement of state authorities, “serious in nature” and warranting immediate consideration by it.
