Allahabad High Court expresses displeasure over Additional District Magistrate’s rejection of a Muslim professor’s application to convert to Hindu Dharma.

Prayagraj – Allahabad High Court expressed strong displeasure over the role of Prayagraj’s Additional District Magistrate in rejecting the application of a Muslim professor seeking formal recognition of his conversion to Sanatan Dharma.

Anil Pandit (formerly Mohammad Ahsan) had voluntarily embraced Sanatan Dharma and had applied for formal recognition under the ‘Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021’. However, before deciding on the application, the Additional District Magistrate repeatedly ordered police inquiries and subsequently rejected the application.

During the hearing, a fact came before the court that the young man’s father-in-law had lodged a criminal case against him. A Division Bench comprising Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Indrajeet Shukla has presently stayed the order issued by the Additional District Magistrate of Prayagraj.

Anil Pandit had embraced Sanatan Dharma in an Arya Samaj temple in 2022, after which his name was changed to “Anil Pandit.” He informed the Court that he had been inclined towards Sanatan Dharma, Hindu culture, and traditions since his school days. “He also stated that there had never been a tradition of offering namaz in his family.

While pursuing his PhD in the English Department of the University of Allahabad, he met Aparna Vajpayee, and the two later entered into a love marriage. Aparna Vajpayee informed the Court that she had voluntarily married Anil Pandit according to Hindu traditions; however, her father was opposed to the marriage. She is currently seven months pregnant.

Aparna’s father had lodged a criminal complaint against Anil. Subsequently, in the case, the police stated that no pressure had been exerted on the petitioner to convert, nor had he been influenced through any improper means or coerced into embracing Sanatan Dharma.