Allahabad High Court: Distribution and Peaceful Preaching of Bible is Not a Crime
A landmark ruling by the Allahabad High Court emphasizes that the distribution and preaching of the Bible, as long as it does not involve coercion, deception, or illegal inducement, is not a criminal offense under the “Anti-Conversion Law.”
The Allahabad High Court in India issued an important and unprecedented ruling, stating that the mere distribution of the Bible and peaceful preaching of Christianity, provided it is not accompanied by coercion or deception, does not constitute a criminal offense under the stringent “Anti-Conversion Law” in the state of Uttar Pradesh. This decision is regarded as a major victory for religious freedom and the rights of religious minorities in India.
The case originated from a complaint filed on August 17, 2025, at the Dhammaur police station in Surajnpur district, where “Manoj Kumar Singh” as the complainant alleged that the accused had held religious meetings at his residence, distributed Bibles, and attempted to convert people through preaching.
Based on this complaint, they allegedly gave sacred texts to poor individuals, including women and children from the “Dalit” community, and used an LED screen to broadcast sermons. This complaint led to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) under sections of the 2021 Anti-Conversion Law and India’s new criminal laws (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023). The accused were immediately arrested, although at the time of filing the complaint, no one had claimed to have been subjected to coercion or deception to change their religion.
The court emphasized that at the time of filing the report, there was no victim or person claiming forced religious conversion, deeming this one of the essential elements of anti-conversion laws that was not observed in this case. The bench clearly stated: “The distribution of the Bible and preaching of Christianity, by itself, does not constitute a crime and is not criminalized under any provision.”
The court criticized the police’s hasty action and the arrest of the accused on the same day the FIR was filed, as there was no definitive claim of conversion to another religion at that time.
Another point of note was that allegations related to “inducement to change religion” were initially recorded two months later (on October 25, 2025) in supplementary statements, whereas there was no mention of this in the initial statements.
With this ruling, the court sent a decisive message to law enforcement and the judicial bureaucracy that the expression of opinion and legitimate religious activities, even if contrary to the beliefs of the majority, are not criminal activities and cannot be used as a means to suppress religious freedom through laws such as the Anti-Conversion Law.
This ruling also emphasizes the principle enshrined in India’s Constitution regarding religious freedom and freedom of speech, which guarantees every individual the right to choose, practice, and promote their religion, provided that no illegal force, deception, or coercion is involved.
The Allahabad High Court’s ruling can be considered a watershed moment in combating the misuse of anti-conversion laws. This decision is not only effective in the specific case, but also serves as an important warning to state and judicial authorities against using anti-conversion laws solely against peaceful and legitimate activities.
