The Allahabad High Court Compensation case has highlighted the constitutional protection of personal liberty and religious freedom. The Court awarded ₹25 lakh to two adult sisters who faced unlawful confinement at their parental home since 2021.
A single-judge bench led by Justice Sandeep Jain held the State and the women’s father jointly liable. The Court found that their prolonged detention violated Articles 21 and 25 of the Constitution.
Court Holds State and Father Accountable
The High Court found serious failures by state authorities. Officials allowed the women’s confinement to continue during the investigation. The Court held that such inaction cannot justify the violation of fundamental rights.
Justice Jain observed that the State machinery failed to meet its constitutional duties. The authorities also failed to protect the women’s liberty. Their actions and omissions contributed to the continued deprivation of their rights.
The Court therefore imposed public law liability on both the State and the father. It directed payment of ₹25 lakh as compensation within the specified timelines.
Women Declared Free to Make Their Own Choices
The Court declared both women free from parental and state control. The women, aged about 20 and 35, can live wherever they choose. They can also live with any person of their choice.
The Court directed authorities to provide them with necessary protection. It also ordered their father to return their personal documents and belongings.
These included passports, educational records, identity certificates, bank passbooks and cheque books. The father must also return documents related to their religious conversion within seven days.
The Court stressed that adult citizens have the right to make personal decisions. This includes decisions about religion, residence and marriage. Parental objections cannot override these constitutional freedoms.
Habeas Corpus Petition Led to Court Intervention
The case reached the High Court through a habeas corpus petition. The petition was filed on behalf of the two sisters.
The women had voluntarily left Hinduism and embraced Islam, according to the petition. They stated that they made the decision to find spiritual peace and exercise their freedom of conscience.
They also intended to marry according to their own choices. Their father opposed these decisions and filed a kidnapping case with the police.
The investigating agency later added provisions under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021. The petition alleged that the police acted with the father to keep the women confined.
Neither woman was an accused in any offence. The High Court later directed the police and their father to produce them before the Court.
Court Rejects National Security Argument
During an in-chamber interaction, both women confirmed their decision to embrace Islam. They told the Court that they acted voluntarily.
They denied any force, fraud, coercion, allurement or undue influence. The Court considered their statements before reaching its decision.
The State argued that the conversion could form part of a larger conspiracy. It also raised concerns about national security, sovereignty and integrity.
The Court rejected this argument. Justice Jain held that allegations in an FIR cannot replace legally admissible evidence.
The pendency of an investigation also cannot justify the detention of adult citizens. Even an alleged violation of the 2021 Anti-Conversion Act does not permit unlawful confinement.
Constitutional Rights Cannot Depend on Parental Approval
The Allahabad High Court Compensation ruling reinforces the constitutional protection of individual liberty. The judgment makes clear that adult citizens can decide their faith and personal relationships.
The Court also stressed that parental authority has constitutional limits. Social pressure and religious disapproval cannot override fundamental rights.
The ruling further holds that executive inaction can attract public law liability. State authorities must protect personal liberty when they become aware of unlawful detention.
The ₹25 lakh award therefore serves as compensation for the violation of the women’s fundamental rights. It also sends a strong message that constitutional freedoms apply equally to every adult citizen.
