Free to practise religion of choice’: Allahabad High Court, orders youth who embraced Islam to be set free

Free to practise religion of choice': Allahabad High Court, orders youth who embraced Islam to be set free Notes family cannot override the constitutionally protected autonomy of an adult person.

What happened

Chandni's house, which remains locked, at Qureshi Mohalla in Shamli. (Express photo by Gajendra Yadav).

Observing that an adult person has the right to decide on the faith to follow and one's life partner, the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday ordered that Shamli resident Ayush Malik. This person had earlier embraced Islam and married a Muslim woman, was at liberty to practice a religion of his choice and decide regarding his matrimonial relationship.

After hearing the justifications given by Ayush's father to restrain Ayush, the single bench of Justice Sandeep Jain remarked, "The concern expressed by the father regarding the welfare of his son is understandable in the context of the familial relationship. Nevertheless, such concern cannot, by itself, override the constitutionally protected autonomy of an adult person who is competent to take decisions concerning his faith, residence and choice of life partner."

The bottom line

Taken together, the developments around free to practise religion of choice': Allahabad High Court, orders youth who point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.