In a strongly worded order, the Allahabad High Court has ruled that distributing the Bible or preaching Christianity does not, by itself, amount to an offence under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021. The Bench of Justice Abdul Moin and Justice Babita Rani criticised the Uttar Pradesh Police for “bending backward” to arrest the accused immediately after the FIR, despite the absence of any victim alleging forced conversion.
The case arose from an FIR filed by Manoj Kumar Singh, who claimed that the accused had organised a prayer meeting intending to convert Dalits and economically weaker individuals. He alleged that he saw an LED screen displaying Christian teachings and that Bibles were being distributed. While hearing the plea to quash the FIR, the Court examined Section 3 of the 2021 Act, which requires a specific person to claim that attempts were made to convert them through force, allurement or misrepresentation. The Bench noted that when the FIR was lodged on August 17, 2025, no such victim had appeared, and the FIR merely mentioned the recovery of an LED screen and Bibles.
The Court further pointed out inconsistencies in statements, including one alleged victim who initially said nothing about conversion but later changed his version two months after the FIR. Referring to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Rajendra Bihari Lal vs State of UP, the Bench stressed that the 2021 Act is a “special law” and its procedures must be followed strictly. The Court also questioned the complainant’s authority to enter the accused’s house and issued him a notice seeking clarification.
