Religious freedom does not mean right to convert others : Allahabad HC

Bail denied to a Christian who illegally converted Hindus

Allahabad High Court

Prayagraj – The Allahabad High Court observed that freedom of religion does not mean the right to convert others. The Court made this observation while denying bail to a Christian accused of illegally converting some Hindus.

Religious freedom does not grant the right to convert others – Allahabad HC

Bail denied to Christian individual for unlawful conversion of Hindus#NoConversion #BanConversion pic.twitter.com/NtVM8ipkwN

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) July 11, 2024

A case was registered under Sections 3 and 5 (1) of the ‘Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Illegal Conversion Act, 2021’ against a Christian named Srinivas Rao of Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh. On 15^thFebruary 2014, the accused forced some persons to leave Hindu Dharma and embrace Christianity. After that, a case was registered against him.

The Allahabad High Court held that the Constitution of India gave citizens the right to practice and propagate their religion; still, the individual right to freedom of religion cannot be extended to a right to mass conversion to one’s own religion.