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Allahabad High Court Allows Converted Adult to Choose Faith, Partner
Ayush Malik is an adult who told the court that he chose to become Muslim.
He said nobody forced or tricked him into changing his religion.
He also said he wants to marry Chandni Qureshi.
Malik claimed his family kept him at home against his wishes.
His father said Malik had been influenced or “brainwashed.”
The Allahabad High Court found no reason to doubt Malik’s statement.
The court said adults can usually choose their religion, home and life partner.
It allowed Malik to live where he wants, practise the religion he chooses and decide about marriage according to the law.
The case is also connected to the arrest of Qureshi and her father under Uttar Pradesh’s religious-conversion law.
The Allahabad High Court allowed 31-year-old Ayush Malik to live where and with whom he chooses.
Malik told the court he voluntarily converted to Islam in 2014 without threats, coercion, inducement or undue pressure.
He said he had changed his name to Mohammad Ali and wanted to marry Chandni Qureshi.
Malik alleged that his family had threatened and unlawfully confined him since June 4.
His father disputed the account, saying Malik had been influenced or “brainwashed,” but the court upheld Malik’s constitutional autonomy.
- Who
- The Allahabad High Court, Ayush Malik, his father Devraj Singh Malik, and Chandni Qureshi are central to the case.
- What
- The court allowed Malik, who said he voluntarily converted to Islam, to choose his residence, religion and marriage decision.
- Where
- The matter was heard in the Allahabad High Court and concerns Malik’s family home in Shamli.
- When
- The order was passed on Wednesday; Malik alleged he had been confined since June 4, and said his conversion occurred in 2014.
- Why
- The court held that an adult’s constitutional autonomy, including choices about faith and a life partner, cannot ordinarily be overridden by family objections.
Malik’s Account and Court Finding
Family’s Objection
Whether the conversion was voluntary
Malik’s Account and Court Finding
Malik told the court that he converted to Islam voluntarily in 2014 and was not subjected to threat, coercion, inducement or undue pressure. The court said it had no material reason to doubt him.
Family’s Objection
His father, Devraj Singh Malik, claimed that Malik had been influenced or “brainwashed” and had not converted voluntarily.
Who should decide Malik’s residence and relationships
Malik’s Account and Court Finding
The court held that Malik, as an adult, was competent to decide his faith, residence and matrimonial relationship, and could live wherever and with whomever he chose.
Family’s Objection
Malik alleged that his family opposed his choices, threatened him and unlawfully confined him at the family home since June 4.
Key facts
- Person involved
- Ayush Malik, 31, a Bachelor of Pharmacy graduate from Shamli
- Religious conversion
- Malik said he voluntarily converted to Islam in 2014
- Changed name
- Malik said he changed his name to Mohammad Ali
- Marriage intention
- He said he wished to marry Chandni Qureshi, a Muslim woman
- Court’s ruling
- Malik was set at liberty to choose his residence, religion and marriage decision in accordance with law
- Constitutional basis
- The court linked faith and partner choices to personal liberty under Article 21
- Related legal case
- Chandni Qureshi and her father were arrested in a case under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021
Sources
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