#religious conversion

The Supreme Court held that a person’s conversion from Hinduism to Islam does not automatically carry forward their former Hindu backward-caste status for claiming Muslim reservation benefits under Article 16(4). The ruling clarifies that caste identity is religion-specific and cannot be transferred across faiths, affecting individuals seeking community certificates after conversion.

The Allahabad High Court granted bail to an accused under the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion Act and BNS, finding no credible evidence of religious conversion or sexual assault. The ruling reinforces that mere change of name on Aadhaar, without corroborative proof of coercion or inducement, cannot sustain charges under the Act - protecting consensual adult relationships from weaponized prosecution.

Himachal Pradesh High Court rules that conversion to Islam results in immediate forfeiture of Scheduled Caste status under Clause 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, disentitling the individual from reservations and statutory benefits. The judgment reaffirms the absolute bar on Scheduled Caste status for those professing religions other than Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist.

Madhya Pradesh High Court grants bail to a doctor accused under POCSO Act and M.P. Freedom of Religion Act, emphasizing the absence of criminal antecedents, no tampering risk, and the accused's family responsibilities. The ruling underscores that prolonged pre-trial detention is unjustified when the accused poses no flight or evidence-tampering risk, even in serious offences.

Madhya Pradesh High Court refuses anticipatory bail in a case under the M.P. Freedom of Religion Act, 2021, holding that grave allegations of mass conversion through inducement override constitutional religious freedom claims. The ruling underscores that communal harmony concerns can limit Article 25 rights where prima facie evidence of unlawful conversion exists.

The Allahabad High Court ruled that when victim testimony and CCTV footage collectively establish prima facie evidence of allurement under the UP Unlawful Conversion Act, courts cannot quash the FIR at the threshold - investigation is mandatory to determine intent and legality. This sets a critical precedent for protecting investigative integrity in religious conversion cases where claims of mala fide intent cannot override evidentiary triggers.

Chhattisgarh High Court grants bail to accused in a religious conversion case, ruling that a consensual love relationship between the accused and the complainant’s sister negates the prosecution’s allegations of coercion and abduction. The court held that no prima facie case exists under BNSS despite serious charges, emphasizing the complainant’s credibility gap.

The Supreme Court ruled that conversion to Christianity terminates Scheduled Caste status under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, thereby stripping protections under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The judgment impacts statutory benefits and legal remedies for converts from Scheduled Castes, reinforcing the linkage between caste identity and religious affiliation under Indian law.

Bombay High Court holds that mere presence of Christian symbols or erroneous entries do not prove conversion; documentary proof of ancestral caste prevails under Maharashtra Act No. XXIII of 2001.