Allahabad High Court’s remark on religious conversions expunged

The Supreme Court on Friday expunged the Allahabad High Court’s remark that a majority population of the country would become the minority if religious congregations where conversions take place were not stopped.

A Bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Manoj Misra passed the order while granting bail to one Kailash, against whom a case had been filed under provisions of the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act and under Section 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent to secretly and wrongfully confine a person) of the IPC.

The top court granted the relief to the accused, noting that he was in custody since May 21, 2023, and the chargesheet had been submitted on July 19, 2023.

“We clarify that the HC’s general observations had no bearing on the facts of the present case and were, therefore, not required for the disposal of the case. The observations, therefore, shall not be cited in any other case or proceeding in the High Court or in any other court,” the Bench said.

The accused was held on the charge of taking people from Hamirpur in UP to a religious congregation in Delhi for conversion.