SC Grants Interim Protection to SHUATS Officials Accused in Religious Conversion Case

SC Grants Interim Protection to SHUATS Officials Accused in Religious Conversion Case

VoM News Desk | December 19, 2023 | 05:28 PM IST | Courts & Law | Follow on Google News

SC Grants Interim Protection to SHUATS Officials Accused in Religious Conversion Case

SC Grants Interim Protection to SHUATS Officials Accused in Religious Conversion Case

The Supreme Court provided interim protection against arrest to the Vice-Chancellor and other senior officials of Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Science (SHUATS). This follows accusations of inducing a woman to adopt Christianity through job offers and enticements.

The court intervened by staying the Allahabad High Court’s decision that refused to suspend the FIR lodged against the VC and other officials. Initially directed to surrender by December 20 and seek regular bail, the accused moved the apex court challenging this order.

During the hearing, the vacation bench issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and postponed the case for a hearing upon the apex court’s reopening. An interim order protecting the accused from arrest in connection with FIR number 305/2023 was granted, staying the High Court order until January 5.

Senior advocate Siddhartha Dave, representing the petitioners, emphasized the urgency due to the infringement of anticipatory bail rights. He argued against the High Court’s decision, expressing concerns over losing the right to anticipatory bail and portraying the accusations as akin to a corruption scandal despite the university’s establishment in 1910.

The FIR, lodged in Hamirpur district, alleges attempts to convert people to Christianity and includes accusations of sexual exploitation. The appeal to the apex court deemed the FIR baseless and driven by malice, aimed at falsely implicating and maligning the university officials.

The accused contend that the incident dates back to 2005, highlighting an unwarranted delay in registering the FIR. They assert that the victim fabricated the allegations after her dismissal from SHUATS in 2022.

The FIR implicates the accused of persuading the woman to convert to Christianity by offering employment, while the victim alleges sexual exploitation and pressure to recruit others for illegal activities.

The accused officials maintain that the victim’s allegations emerged post-termination, intending to implicate them, including the Vice-Chancellor, in a fabricated narrative.

This legal battle raises complex issues of religious conversion, exploitation allegations, and the timing of the accusations, warranting a thorough investigation and fair legal proceedings.

SC Grants Interim Protection to SHUATS Officials Accused in Religious Conversion Case: In case of rectification of any error in this Article, Visit on Correction Policy or Register your Query

VoM News Desk

VoM News is an online web portal in jammu Kashmir offers regional, National & global news.