UP Prohibition of Religious Conversion Act: Supreme Court quashes cases

The Supreme Court quashes cases related to the allegations of widespread conversion of Hindus to Christianity in Uttar Pradesh. The bench headed by Justice J.B. Pardiwala observed that criminal laws should not be used as weapons to harass innocent people.

The cases were quashed under the Prevention of Unlawful Conversion Act, enacted in Uttar Pradesh in 2021. The Supreme Court quashed the cases registered in the names of several people, including Rajendra Bihari Lal, Vice Chancellor of Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Science. The Supreme Court observed that these are cases that are weakened due to procedural errors and lack of evidence. The court said that continuing proceedings in such cases would be tantamount to contempt of court.

Six FIRs were registered under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Religious Conversion Act between December 2021 and January 2023. A case was filed in April 2022 by a Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader alleging that 90 Hindus were converted to Christianity at a function held at the Evangelical Church of India on Maundy Thursday. Vishwa Hindu Parishad Vice President Himanshu Dixit alleged in his complaint that the conversions were carried out by luring and threatening them with promises of money.

However, the Supreme Court noted that no one who claims to have been converted was present on April 14, 2022, when the incident allegedly took place. The bench noted that they had not undergone illegal conversion.