# Allahabad HC says adult free to choose religion and spouse

2026-09-16T14:22:22+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 4 independent outlets

The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday disposed of a habeas corpus petition filed by Ayush Malik, who had alleged he was being illegally detained by his father after converting from Hinduism to Islam and marrying a Muslim woman. Justice Sandeep Jain ruled that Malik, 31, is a major and free to profess his faith and choose his life partner. The court set him at liberty to reside wherever he wishes. Malik told the court he voluntarily embraced Islam in 2023 without coercion or inducement. His father, Devraj Singh Malik, had lodged an FIR under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, alleging the conversion was coerced for access to property. The court found no material to doubt the voluntariness of Malik's choices and said familial concern cannot override the constitutionally protected autonomy of an adult. Chandni Qureshi and her father, arrested under the Act, spent months in jail. The court disposed of the petition after Malik appeared before it.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

The coverage is uniform straight reporting with no discernible slant across sources. All four outlets lead with the court's core ruling on adult autonomy and report the father's coercion allegation and the FIR under the 2021 Act. The key factual dispute, whether Malik later returned to Hinduism, is mentioned only by siasat.com as unverified. The judgment reaffirms the constitutional right to personal liberty, but the criminal case against Qureshi and her father under the anti-conversion law remains pending, testing the law's application when the convert himself denies coercion.

## Coverage

- siasat.com (neutral report) <https://www.siasat.com/ayush-malik-converted-to-islam-by-choice-rules-allahabad-hc-3543278/>
  Straight news agency-style reporting with no slant
- indiatoday.in (neutral report) <https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/allahabad-high-court-ayush-malik-free-to-convert-to-islam-and-marry-ptag-2996026-2026-09-16?utm_source=rss>
  Straight reporting, leads with court's adult autonomy ruling
- barandbench.com (neutral report) <https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/allahabad-hc-sets-ayush-malik-free-from-familys-custody-after-he-says-he-voluntarily-embraced-islam>
  Detailed court order reporting, no editorialising
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/allahabad-high-court-says-adult-man-free-to-choose-religion-and-who-to-marry-101789562119191.html>
  Straight wire copy, no slant or commentary

Tags: Allahabad High Court, Article 21, Ayush Malik, Chandni Qureshi
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