Overview

• The court dismissed Sonu alias Sahnoor’s plea to quash charges under the IPC and POCSO Act for allegedly kidnapping and marrying a minor at an Arya Samaj temple.
• It affirmed that interfaith marriages without formal religious conversion breach the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.
• Justice Kumar raised alarms over Arya Samaj societies issuing unregistered or potentially fabricated marriage certificates for a fee without legal formalities.
• The home secretary must appoint a DCP-rank officer to investigate these practices and submit a compliance report by August 29, 2025.
• The ruling reinforces strict age verification and mandatory registration under the UP Marriage Registration Rules, 2017.