Interfaith Marriages Without Conversion Are Illegal : Allahabad High Court's Landmark Ruling

Prayagraj (Uttam Hindu News): Amidst the ongoing nationwide debate on religious conversion and love jihad, the Allahabad High Court has given an important decision, which has created a new stir. The court has clarified that if people belonging to two different religions marry without converting, such marriage will be legally invalid (invalid).

The decision will also particularly crackdown on Arya Samaj societies and other institutions that issue marriage certificates to anyone for a fee, even if the marriage was solemnized in violation of legal procedures.

This case is related to Nichlaul police station area of Maharajganj district in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Here an FIR was registered against a person named Sonu alias Sahnoor for kidnapping, raping a minor girl and under the POCSO Act. The accused filed a petition in the High Court demanding cancellation of this criminal case. He argued that he had married the victim in an Arya Samaj temple and now she has become an adult, so the proceedings going on against him should be cancelled.

At the same time, the government lawyer strongly opposed this and said that both the boy and the girl belong to different religions and since no one changed their religion before marriage, this marriage is illegal in the eyes of the law.

After hearing the arguments of both the parties, a single bench of Justice Prashant Kumar not only dismissed the petition of the accused but also expressed serious concern over Arya Samaj temples issuing fake marriage certificates in this manner.

Taking a tough stand, the court has ordered the state Home Secretary to investigate all such Arya Samaj Societies which are issuing marriage certificates to couples of opposite religions or minors. This investigation has been directed to be conducted by a DCP level IPS officer. The court has summoned the compliance report of the action taken on this order by August 29, 2025 with a personal affidavit. The court also stressed the need for immediate and strict action to stop such activities.

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