Allahabad HC frees man confinedafter conversion, relationship with Muslim woman, cites Articles 21, 25

On Wednesday, the Allahabad High Court released Ayush Malik, a 31-year-old man who had been confined by his father following his conversion to Islam and his relationship with a Muslim woman, Chandni Qureshi. Ayush, who embraced Islam in 2014, argued that the right to choose a life partner falls under the right to life and personal liberty guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution.

The court also noted that such decisions cannot be restricted simply because they contradict family members' wishes. Following Ayush's conversion to Islam, authorities in Shamli district registered a case under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021 against Qureshi and her father, who were subsequently detained and held in jail for several months before being released on bail.

A single-judge Bench, led by Justice Sandeep Jain, heard Ayush's habeas corpus petition, concluding that he was capable of making decisions about his life. Ayush's friend, Mohammad Sultan, claimed that Ayush had voluntarily converted to Islam and subsequently wished to marry Qureshi, alleging that his father, Devraj Singh Malik, opposed the relationship and had confined Ayush illegally since June 4.

The court accepted Ayush's statement, emphasizing the importance of freedom of conscience and religious practices as protected under Article 25 of the Constitution.