Allahabad High Court says adult man free to convert to Islam and marry

The Allahabad High Court disposed of Ayush Malik's habeas corpus plea after he appeared before the bench. The court said that, as an adult, he is free to choose his faith and spouse.

The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday disposed of a petition alleging that an adult man was being detained by his father after he decided to convert to Islam and marry a Muslim woman. The court said petitioner Ayush Malik is a major and is free to do what he wishes.

The matter came up before Justice Sandeep Jain in a habeas corpus petition filed by Ayush Malik through his friend Sultan. Earlier, on September 9, the high court had directed the father to produce his son before the court on September 16.

It was submitted before the court that Ayush Malik, 31, had, of his own free will and volition, renounced Hinduism and embraced Islam without any coercion, undue influence or inducement. It was further submitted that after converting to Islam, he solemnised marriage with Chandni Qureshi against the wishes of his father, Devraj Singh Malik.

The father then 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. The petitioner's counsel said Ayush was being held in illegal detention by his father in collusion with state authorities.

In its earlier order, the court said, "From a perusal of the documents annexed with the writ petition, it prima facie appears that the corpus, Ayush Malik has voluntarily renounced Hinduism and embraced Islam and thereafter solemnised marriage with Chandni Qureshi against the wishes of his father." The court had also termed the allegation of detention and the involvement of state authorities as "serious in nature" and warranting immediate consideration. With Ayush Malik produced before it, the court disposed of the petition, reiterating that as an adult, he is free to take his own decisions.