The Allahabad High Court has refused to grant protection to three interfaith couples, citing non-compliance of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibiti...
The Allahabad High Court has refused to grant protection to three interfaith couples, citing non-compliance of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2020, Bar and Bench reported on Wednesday.
Uttar Pradesh is among a host of Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states that have enacted anti-conversion laws to penalise “love jihad” – a pejorative term coined by the right-wing groups to push the conspiracy theory that Muslim men charm Hindu women into marrying them with the sole purpose of converting their brides to Islam.
In an order dated June 25, Justice Siddharth observed that the couples did not follow the mandatory requirement of submitting a declaration form before the district magistrate 60 days prior to conversion.
The couples had approached the High Court seeking protection from family members who were allegedly threatening them.
In the first case, a Muslim woman got married to a Hindu man. She told the court that she had converted to the Hindu religion and a certificate by a “Sanskar Adhikari” of the Arya Samaj was issued. But, the court said, “There is no evidence of conversion of petitioner to Hindu religion. Without conversion to Hindu religion the marriage of the petitioners cannot be said to be in accordance with law.”
In the second case, a Muslim woman...
