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The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently issued notice to Arya Samaj Vivah Mandir Trust, Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) in a case involving religious conversion inside the temple. It was alleged that a Muslim girl was converted into Hinduism by temple priests for the purpose of marriage.

The bench of Justice Rohit Arya and Justice Rajeev Kumar Shrivastava was hearing one habeas corpus plea wherein, a man named Rahul @Golu had sought the release of his wife from a Nari Sudhar Grah claiming that she had been wrongfully confined by the State Police Authorities after their marriage.

During the hearing on his plea, Rahul raised a point that the Temple should also be a party in this case as he had been issued a marriage as well as a 'conversion certificate' by the Arya Samaj Sammelan Trust Ghaziabad (UP) on September 17, 2019. 

Accordingly, on January 10, 2022, Rahul's Counsel sought time to implead the Temple Trust in the matter, however, on January 18, 2022, on the contrary, he prayed for the withdrawal of the petition.

Taking note of Rahul's these questionable moves, the Additional Advocate General M.P.S. Raghuvanshi appearing on behalf of the State argued against petition withdrawal and prayed the court to invoke suo motu jurisdiction and issue notice to the so-called Arya Samaj Vivah Mandir Trust.

AAG averred that this is a serious issue as such conversion activities should not take place inside the temple. Agreeing with the same, the court rejected the plea for withdrawal. Issuing notice to the Temple Trust, court also directed the Priest/Manager of the said Mandir to appear before it on the next date of hearing. 

Rahul had claimed that he and Hina had a love relationship and after running away from their home, they married each other and for this purpose, Hina even converted her religion from Muslim to Hinduism. However, as Hina's parents were against this relationship, they filed a missing complaint after Hina's eloping. Resultantly, an FIR was lodged in the matter under Sections 363, 366, 376 of Indian Penal Code 1860 and under Sections 5 & 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. 

Thereafter, Hina's statement was recorded before the Police and Judicial Magistrate as well, wherein she showed her willingness to reside with Rahul and his family. Despite this fact, Hina was sent to the Nari Niketan Sudhar Grah in September 2021 and after that, to Nari Sudhar Grah in Morena from where Rahul has sought her release. 

Case Title: Rahul Alias Golu v. The State of Madhya Pradesh and Others