Archive · 1 Nov 2025
Gujarat HC Upholds Right to Interfaith Marriage, Rejects Father's Plea
Imagine a girl's dad was upset because his daughter married someone from a different religion.
He went to court and asked the police to file a complaint against the people who helped them get married.
But the judge said that grown-ups have the freedom to choose who they want to marry, just like they have the freedom to live their lives.
Since the daughter was an adult and made her own choices willingly, the dad's request was denied.
The court explained that everyone has a fundamental right to marry the person they love, and this is protected by the Constitution.
It's like saying you have the right to pick your favorite ice cream flavor, and nobody can stop you if it's your own decision.
Gujarat High Court dismissed a father's petition to file an FIR against police for registering his daughter's interfaith marriage.
The court affirmed that the right to marry a person of one's choice is an integral part of Article 21 of the Constitution.
The daughter is an adult, voluntarily converted, and did not protest her marriage or conversion.
The father alleged illegal interfaith conversion and marriage registration, but the court found no grounds for his complaint.
The court stated that interfering with interfaith marriage between consenting adults infringes upon Article 21.
- Who
- Gujarat High Court, a father, and his adult daughter
- What
- The Gujarat High Court rejected a father's plea to file an FIR against police for registering his daughter's interfaith marriage, affirming the right to marry a person of choice as part of Article 21.
- When
- Order dated October 14; daughter's alleged conversion and marriage earlier this year (March).
- Where
- Gujarat High Court; daughter's alleged conversion in Rajasthan, marriage registered in Gujarat.
- Why
- The court held that the daughter, being an adult and consenting, has the right to marry a person of her choice, and her voluntary conversion and marriage do not constitute an offense under the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act.
Father's Stance
Court's Ruling
Validity of Interfaith Marriage and Conversion
Father's Stance
Contended that the interfaith conversion and subsequent marriage registration were illegal and sought an FIR against the officials involved.
Court's Ruling
Ruled that the right to marry a person of choice is integral to Article 21, and the daughter, being an adult and consenting, voluntarily entered into the marriage after conversion, thus no offense was made out.
Police Duty and FIR Registration
Father's Stance
Sought directions to the police to lodge an FIR for alleged dereliction of statutory duties and non-registration of his complaint under the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act and BNSS.
Court's Ruling
Dismissed the plea, stating that no cognizable offense was made out based on the facts presented, as the adult daughter had voluntarily undergone conversion and marriage without protest.
- Court
- Gujarat High Court
- Judge
- Justice H D Suthar
- Order Date
- October 14
- Petitioner
- Father of the adult daughter
- Petitioner's Daughter
- Adult college student
- Alleged Conversion Location
- Kushalgarh, Banswara district, Rajasthan
- Marriage Registration Act Cited
- Gujarat Marriage Registration Act, 2006