Allahabad HC Asks Father, UP Govt to Jointly Pay ₹25 Lakh over Confinement of Two Women Who Converted to Islam
The court said the women’s detention was wholly illegal and ordered the Uttar Pradesh government and their father to pay ₹25 lakh in compensation.
- On August 6, the Allahabad High Court ordered the release of Zoya Diya Bhatia and Amina Anshu Bhatia, directing the Uttar Pradesh government and their father to pay ₹25 lakh for "unlawful deprivation" of their fundamental rights.
- After Anil Kumar Bhatia confined them at home, the sisters, aged 35 and 20, petitioned the court following their voluntary conversion from Hinduism to Islam, which he opposed in a May 2025 police complaint.
- Dismissing the State's claim that their conversion threatened the "sovereignty, integrity and unity of the nation," Justice Sandeep Jain found the sisters' responses were "spontaneous, coherent and unequivocal" during independent interaction.
- Bhatia was ordered to return the women's passports and educational documents within seven days, while the court directed the State and father to split the ₹25 lakh compensation equally and provide protection if required.
- Clarifying legal boundaries, the High Court noted that the legality of religious conversion and detention are separate issues, affirming that the Constitution protects an adult's autonomy to make personal choices independent of parental disapproval.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Majoritarian sentiments can't impair constitutional rights: HC
Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court on August 6 had directed the Uttar Pradesh government and the father of two adult sisters who voluntarily converted to Islam to jointly pay Rs 25 lakh in compensation after ruling that they were illegally confined following the conversion. Justice Sandeep Jain passed the order while hearing the petition filed by sisters Diya Bhatia, who changed her name to Zoya Diya Bhatia, and Anshu Bhatia, who changed her na…
HC orders father, UP govt to pay Rs 25 lakh to sisters who converted to Islam
The Allahabad High Court has ordered the father of two adult women and the Uttar Pradesh government to jointly pay Rs 25 lakh compensation. This ruling comes after the sisters were illegally confined at their parental home for converting to Islam. The court affirmed their right to choose their faith and criticised both the father and the state for infringing upon their fundamental liberties.
HC orders father, UP govt to jointly pay Rs 25 lakh to two sisters who converted to Islam
Prayagraj, Aug 11 (PTI) The Allahabad High Court has ordered the father of two adult women and the Uttar Pradesh government to jointly pay Rs 25 lakh compensation after holding that the sisters were illegally confined at their parental home following their decision to convert to Islam. Justice Sandeep Jain passed the order while allowing […]
Allahabad HC asks father, UP govt to jointly pay ₹25 lakh over confinement of two women who converted to Islam
The court said that both sisters are free to reside at any place and with any person of their own choice, without any interference from their father or any other person
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