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Allahabad HC Upholds Interfaith Live-in Rights Under Article 21, Distinguishes UP Anti-Conversion Law 2021

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
25 Feb 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:February 23, 202612 writ petitionsUttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021Article 21
Bodies:Allahabad High CourtSupreme Court of India
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What This Article Covers

1.Justice Vivek Kumar Singh of Allahabad HC granted protection to 12 interfaith couples, ruling that the UP anti-conversion law does not bar live-in relationships where no conversion is sought.

2.The court distinguished the 2021 Act's scope, stating it applies only where conversion is involved, and relied on SC precedents like Lata Singh (2006) and Shafin Jahan (2018) upholding the right to choose a partner.

3.The judgment creates a complex legal landscape as it contrasts with other Allahabad HC rulings like Kiran Rawat (2023) and Shilpa (2024), highlighting the need for a larger bench or SC to settle the law definitively.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

The Allahabad High Court has held that interfaith live-in relationships without religious conversion do not violate the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, and such couples are entitled to police protection. This judgment reinforces the fundamental right to choose a partner under Article 21, creating a crucial judicial precedent amidst conflicting rulings on the subject.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

High CourtAllahabad High Court
JudgeJustice Vivek Kumar Singh
Date of JudgmentFebruary 23, 2026
Number of Petitions12 writ petitions
Relevant ActUttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021
Key Constitutional ArticleArticle 21

1-Minute Revision

  • ›High Court: Allahabad High Court
  • ›Judge: Justice Vivek Kumar Singh
  • ›Target this Data: The judgment was delivered on February 23, 2026, by Justice Vivek Kumar Singh of the Allahabad High Court.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: The Allahabad High Court and the Supreme Court of India (as cited for precedents like Lata Singh vs. State of UP).
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, and its applicability only where religious conversion occurs.

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which High Court delivered the judgment discussed in the article regarding interfaith live-in relationships and the UP anti-conversion law?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the Allahabad High Court judgment discussed in the article:

1. The court held that the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, applies to all interfaith live-in relationships.

2. The judgment relied on Supreme Court precedents like Lata Singh vs. State of UP (2006) to uphold the right to choose a partner under Article 21.

3. The court directed the police to comply with a 2019 state government order providing 'safe houses' and security to threatened couples.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

How many writ petitions filed by interfaith couples were allowed by Justice Vivek Kumar Singh in the Allahabad High Court judgment discussed in the article?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What was the primary legal reasoning of the Allahabad High Court in holding that the UP anti-conversion law does not bar interfaith live-in relationships?

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