The Allahabad High Court has refused to quash a criminal case against two Class 12 Muslim students accused of forcing Islamic beliefs on a Hindu classmate and attempting to convert her religion.
A division bench of Justice JJ Munir and Justice Tarun Saxena said that such allegations involving young students are “particularly disturbing.”
“If this kind of a trend comes to be seen amongst young people, it is all the more disturbing,” the Court observed, adding that students at this stage should focus on education and contributing to society.
Court Upholds Probe Under Anti-Conversion Law
The case has been registered under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.
The Court noted that the law was enacted to prevent situations where individuals impose their religion on others. It cautioned that stopping such cases at an early stage could weaken the intent of the law.
“At the same time, the purpose for which the statute has been enacted cannot be subverted by snuffing out prosecutions brought on tangible materials at the threshold,” the bench said.
However, the Court also acknowledged concerns about misuse, stating that “false implications under a new statute are not to be encouraged.”
Allegations by Hindu Student
The FIR was filed by the brother of the Hindu student, who alleged that his sister was being pressured by her Muslim classmates at a tuition centre.
According to the victim’s statement, the incident took place during an outing in December 2025. She claimed that her friends forced her to wear a burqa and tried to persuade her to eat non-vegetarian food.
The student also alleged that she was encouraged to accept Islam and was asked not to inform her parents about the incidents.
The Court noted that CCTV footage showed the girl being made to wear a veil in a lane, which supported the allegations at this stage.
Petitioners Claim False Case
The accused students had approached the High Court seeking to quash the FIR, claiming that the allegations were false and motivated.
They argued that the complainant had been harassing one of the girls earlier, and the FIR was filed as a “counter-blast” after she objected.
However, the Court rejected this argument, stating, “The submissions that it is a mala fide FIR are not borne out by the record.”
It also said that the victim’s statement before the magistrate “cannot be trashed” and contains sufficient material to proceed under the law.
Investigation to Continue
The Court concluded that the evidence collected so far makes out a prima facie case and warrants a detailed investigation.
While dismissing the pleas, the bench made it clear that the matter should proceed in accordance with law, allowing the investigation to continue.
