No one can interfere if adult women embrace Islam, marry by choice: Allahabad HC

The Allahabad High Court ruled that adult women cannot be interfered with if they voluntarily embrace Islam, marry by choice, or decide their future.

The court was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of Divya Bhatia alias Zoya Diya Bhatia (20) and Anshu Bhatia alias Amina Anshu Bhatia (35), who alleged illegal confinement by their father after converting.

Justice Sandeep Jain observed that interference in such personal choices would violate constitutional rights to dignity, privacy, personal liberty, and decisional autonomy.

The court directed Uttar Pradesh authorities and the father to produce the sisters before the court on August 6 to verify the voluntariness of their decisions.