In a significant development, the Supreme Court recently annulled several First Information Reports (FIRs) filed in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur district. These FIRs, lodged under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, accused various individuals, including a university Vice-Chancellor, of engaging in ‘mass religious conversions’. Following this ruling, legal experts on Saturday (October 18, 2025) emphasized the profound implications it holds for the state’s legal landscape.
Experts suggest that a substantial number of existing cases under this controversial law could now face legal challenges. The Supreme Court’s judgment is expected to instigate a thorough review of pending matters, encourage stricter scrutiny of FIRs, and significantly curb the potential misuse of the law as a tool for harassment, particularly targeting minority communities.
The apex court notably dismissed the case against Rajendra Bihari Lal, Vice-Chancellor of Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj. The court highlighted an ‘incurable legal defect’ in the FIR, pointing out that it was lodged by an individual not legally competent to do so under the then-prevailing statutory framework.
Sulkhan Singh, a former Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police, lauded the Supreme Court’s decision, stating, “The Supreme Court judgment reaffirms the principle that liberty and procedural fairness must never be sacrificed for populist enforcement. Criminal law cannot be wielded as a weapon to harass innocent individuals, allowing prosecuting agencies to initiate actions based on flimsy or incredible evidence.”
Mr. Singh further asserted that the freedom to ‘follow and practice a faith of one’s choice’ is a fundamental right. He added, “This right cannot be suppressed under the pretext of preventing unfair conversions. Religion has civil implications concerning inheritance, maintenance, and children’s welfare. Therefore, conversion can be facilitated and regulated, but it cannot be outright banned. The Supreme Court has unequivocally stated that laws must not be weaponized to marginalize or oppress.”
S. Mohammad Haider Rizvi, a respected legal scholar and senior advocate in Lucknow, hailed the ruling as a ‘watershed moment’ in combating the misuse of anti-conversion laws in Uttar Pradesh, especially when directed against minorities.
“This ruling has far-reaching consequences for Uttar Pradesh. It establishes a powerful precedent for judicial intervention against the misuse of specialized legislation, thereby reinforcing that constitutional safeguards of personal liberty and religious freedom must not be eroded by motivated or frivolous legal actions,” explained Mr. Rizvi.
He criticized the law, remarking, “With an overwhelming number of FIRs filed by third parties, who often have no direct connection to the alleged offense, leading to subsequent arrests but virtually no convictions, this law proves to be regressive. It clearly infringes upon Articles 21 and 25, effectively curtailing personal liberty and religious freedom under the guise of preventing forced conversions.”
Mr. Rizvi emphasized that the judgment reinvigorates trust in judicial oversight, serving as a vital reminder that due process remains the ‘heart and soul’ of democracy. “The Supreme Court’s ruling in this case is an exemplary display of constitutional clarity amidst a cloud of prejudice. Through its meticulous and in-depth 158-page analysis, the apex court has reiterated that laws must not be exploited to oppress the vulnerable,” he stated.
He also pointed out that the prevalence of ‘third-party complaints and vague allegations’ against educators signaled a ‘disturbing trend of targeting minorities under the veneer of legal authority’.
“This judgment definitively restores confidence in judicial review and unequivocally stresses that personal liberty cannot be sacrificed on the altar of popular suspicion,” the advocate concluded.
The specific FIR in question was filed in Fatehpur district in April 2022, based on a complaint by Himanshu Dixit, a leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The complaint alleged that Mr. Lal, also known as Babaji, and others were involved in various offenses including cheating, criminal intimidation, forgery, and unlawful religious conversion, as defined by Section 3 of the state’s conversion law.
The complaint described an alleged ‘mass religious conversion’ event at the Evangelical Church of India in Hariharganj in April 2022, claiming that Mr. Lal attempted to convert individuals gathered outside the church through undue influence and coercion.