Allahabad HC Disposes Writ After ADM Prayagraj Allows Conversion Application Under U.P. Anti-Conversion Act
The Allahabad High Court disposed of a writ petition after the Additional District Magistrate, Prayagraj, finally allowed a 2022 application for conversion from Islam to Sanatan Dharma under the U.P. Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.
A Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court, comprising Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Indrajeet Shukla, disposed of a civil writ petition on 27 May 2026 after the prescribed authority under the U.P. Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021 finally acted on a long-pending conversion application. The petitioner, Anil Pandit alias Mohammad Ahasan, had filed an application dated 27 May 2022 seeking conversion from Islam to Sanatan Dharma. That application had remained undecided for nearly four years, prompting the writ petition. The matter reached its conclusion only after the court's earlier order of 5 May 2026 directed the State to obtain and place instructions before the bench.
The Application Pending Since 2022
The petitioner's application dated 27 May 2022 was filed under Section 9(4) of the U.P. Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021. Section 9 of the Act sets out the procedure for a person wishing to convert from one religion to another, requiring an application to the prescribed authority and a declaration of free consent. The Additional District Magistrate (Administration), Prayagraj, is the prescribed authority for this purpose in the relevant district.
Despite the application having been filed in May 2022, no final order was passed by the ADM for an extended period. This inaction led Anil Pandit alias Mohammad Ahasan to approach the High Court by way of Writ - C No. 33740 of 2024, seeking a direction to the authority to decide the application.
The Court's Earlier Direction and Compliance
The Division Bench had passed an order on 5 May 2026 directing the Standing Counsel to obtain instructions from the State regarding the status of the application. In compliance with that direction, the learned Standing Counsel appeared before the bench on 27 May 2026 and informed the court that the ADM (Administration), Prayagraj, had passed a final order on 14 May 2026 allowing the petitioner's application.
The bench perused the order dated 14 May 2026. The ADM's order, as reproduced in the judgment, records that in compliance with the High Court's direction dated 5 May 2026, the application submitted by the petitioner — Dr. Mohammad Ahasan alias Anil Pandit — for conversion from Islam to Sanatan Dharma, dated 27 May 2022, is accepted under the provisions of the U.P. Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.
Directions Issued by the Division Bench
Having noted that the Section 9(4) application had been allowed, the bench turned to the next procedural step under the statute. It directed that the ADM (Administration), Prayagraj, shall pass consequential orders under Section 9(6) of the U.P. Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021 within four weeks from 27 May 2026.
The bench also directed the petitioner to continue to abide by the undertaking he had given before the court, as recorded in the order dated 5 May 2026. In addition, the petitioner was directed to apply for a change of name in all official records, including testimonials.
The direction regarding Section 9(6) is procedurally significant. Once a conversion application is allowed under Section 9(4), the prescribed authority is required to take further steps under Section 9(6), and the bench's four-week timeline ensures that the consequential process does not stall as the initial application had.
Outcome
The writ petition was disposed of on 27 May 2026. The ADM (Administration), Prayagraj, is required to pass consequential orders under Section 9(6) of the Act within four weeks. The petitioner remains bound by the undertaking recorded on 5 May 2026 and must seek a change of name across all official records and testimonials.