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The Uttarakhand High Court directed the District Magistrate, Haridwar to inquire from the authorities as to why the application of Anjali, also known as Afsana, for conversion has not been processed. She and her husband were also provided protection by the Court. The Bench of Justice Sudhanshu and Justice Ravindra Maithani gave this order in a protection plea filed by an interfaith couple apprehending that the brothers of Anjali @ Afsana may physically harm them.
"We say nothing about the marriage or even the earlier conversion of Afsana from Muslim to Hindu, as it is prima facie in violation of the Uttrakhand Freedom of Religion Act, 2018, as no such permission has been taken from the concerned District Magistrate", the Court said.
According to the petitioners, they have already moved an application before the District Magistrate of Haridwar but no decision has been taken on it.
The Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Anandiben Patel promulgated the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance 2020, 17 days after the Allahabad High Court gave its path-breaking judgement related to one's freedom to choose his/her life partner.