Allahabad HC directs Amethi police not to harass interfaith couple

LUCKNOW: A Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court has directed Amethi police not to take any coercive action against an interfaith couple, on the basis of an FIR lodged against the husband three years ago, till the next date of hearing.
The bench of Justice RR Awasthi and Justice Saroj Yadav passed the order on Wednesday hearing a petition of one Chandani and her husband, who alleged that the police had started harassing them after the promulgation of UP Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance 2020 citing an FIR lodged in 2017 by her father against her husband at Kamrauli police station of Amethi district accusing him of kidnapping her for marriage (Section 363 and 366 of IPC).
The petitioners' lawyer A K Pandey said that couple married three years ago out of their own sweet and they were living peacefully and enjoying their matrimonial life. They also have one child aged one and a half year.
Directing the state government counsel to file response against the petition within a week, the court said that the case should be listed thereafter.
Further, issuing directive to the Amethi police, the court said: "Considering the entire aspect of the matter, it is hereby provided that till the next date of listing, the petitioners shall not be harassed by the police on the basis of the impugned FIR."