The Allahabad High Court has refused to quash an FIR against two Class 12 students accused in a Moradabad case registered under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.
The case concerns allegations that a Hindu schoolgirl was pressured by five Muslim classmates at a tuition centre to wear a burqa, forcibly eat meat against her wishes, read Islamic texts, and accept Islam.
According to the victim’s statement recorded in December, the girls allegedly brought a burqa and forced her to wear it.
She also alleged that they repeatedly praised Islam before her, told her that the Quran could be read in just forty days, said burqa gives girls freedom to go anywhere, and tried to force her to eat the meat dishes they would bring. When the victim refused, they forced her to eat the gravy, she alleged.
The original complaint against the five girls was filed by the victim’s brother.
Subsequently, two accused girls filed a petition in Allahabad high court seeking to ger the FIR quashed.
However, while hearing the plea to quash the FIR, the High Court noted that the case diary contains substantial material collected during investigation. The bench also referred to CCTV material showing the girl being forced to wear the veil.
Importantly, the Court said it was seeing a “disturbing trend of young people thrusting their religion or belief upon others”. It observed that this is a stage of life when students should be focusing on education, skill-building, and service to society and the nation.
The Court further said that the 2021 anti-conversion law was enacted to curb an emerging mischief, and prosecutions based on tangible material should not be shut down at the threshold.
The FIR will therefore stand, and the investigation will continue.
