The Allahabad High Court has disposed of a petition filed by Anil Pandit alias Mohammad Ahashan after being informed that the Prayagraj administration has approved his application seeking recognition of his conversion from Islam to Sanatan Dharma under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.
A Division Bench of Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Indrajeet Shukla recorded the development and directed the concerned authority to complete the remaining statutory formalities within four weeks.
Background of the Case
The dispute arose after the Additional District Magistrate (Administration), Prayagraj, rejected Anil Pandit’s application for a declaration relating to his religious conversion.
The petitioner challenged that decision before the High Court. During earlier proceedings, the court examined the record and noted that previous police inquiry reports had found the conversion to be voluntary. The bench had also expressed concern that the rejection order appeared to rely heavily on an FIR and a charge sheet rather than the findings of the statutory inquiry conducted under the 2021 Act.
On May 5, 2026, the High Court put the rejection order in abeyance and directed the ADM to reconsider the matter afresh.
When the case was taken up again on May 27, 2026, the State informed the court that the Additional District Magistrate (Administration), Prayagraj, had passed a fresh order on May 14, 2026.
The fresh order allowed the petitioner’s application submitted under the provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021 and accepted his request relating to conversion from Islam to Sanatan Dharma.
The High Court perused the order and recorded the development in its judgment.
After noting that the petitioner’s application had been allowed, the bench directed the prescribed authority to pass consequential orders under Section 9(6) of the 2021 Act within four weeks.
The court also said that the petitioner must continue to abide by the undertaking previously given before the bench. It further directed him to apply for the change of name in official records and educational testimonials in accordance with law.
Recording that the conversion application had now been approved by the competent authority, the Allahabad High Court disposed of the writ petition and directed the administration to complete the remaining statutory process within the stipulated period.
Case Details
Case Title: Anil Pandit @ Mohammad Ahasan v. State of U.P. and 2 Others
Case Number: Writ - C No. 33740 of 2024
Bench: Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Indrajeet Shukla
Decision Date: May 27, 2026
