Supreme Court grants interim protection to SHUATS University VC, Director, professors in religious conversion case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted interim protection from arrest to officials and teaching staff of the Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology And Sciences (SHUATS), in a forced religious conversion case. [Rajendra Bihari Lal and ors vs State of Uttar Pradesh and Ors.].A vacation bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and KV Viswanathan also sought the response of the Uttar Pradesh government in the matter, and listed the case upon reopening of the Court subject to the Chief Justice of India's orders."Issue notice. There shall be an interim order protecting the petitioners from arrest in connection with FIR 305/2020", the bench ordered..The Supreme Court was hearing a plea filed by the Director of SHUATS Vinod Bihari Lal, his brother Rajendra Bihari Lal who is the Vice-Chancellor, and five other professors in a case concerning an attempt to convert people to Christianity.The criminal complaint in the matter was filed on November 4. The petitioners have sought quashing of the case and permanent anticipatory bail.The Allahabad High Court had on December 11 rejected their plea in this regard, and directed the petitioners to surrender by December 20. This led to the appeal before the apex court.The quashing was sought for a case filed by a terminated Hindi stenographer of the University, who has alleged the petitioners, through allurement, tried to convert her and other girls from economically weaker sections..During today's hearing, Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave appearing for the petitioners stated that there was grave urgency since it involved violation of the right to anticipatory bail."The High Court says since this is a heinous offence the accused must surrender before the majesty of court. My right of anticipatory bail is gone. It is a University established in 1910 ,and if you read the FIR it is like some corruption scam," he argued. The bench then proceeded to issue notice to the Uttar Pradesh government in the matter and stayed the High Court order till January 5."There shall be a stay on impugned judgment till January 12, or until further orders, whichever is earlier," the bench stated..The Supreme Court had in March stayed the arrest of the Lal brothers in another religious conversion racket case against them, and sought the response of the State of Uttar Pradesh.The Director and VC had at the time moved the apex court seeking relief after the Allahabad High Court had dismissed their anticipatory bail pleas on February 28. The High Court had upheld a Sessions Court order. SHUATS, earlier known as Allahabad Agricultural University, is one of the prominent universities in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.As per a first information report (FIR) of April 2022, around 90 people had gathered outside Evangelical Church of India, Hariharganj in Fatehpur District to convert to Christianity through coercion and undue influence.Upon interrogation, it was allegedly revealed by the pastor that the process of conversion had continued for 34 days and was to complete in 40 days and that they were also converting patients from the Mission Hospital in collusion with the employees.The investigating officers found 55 people allegedly involved in the conversion. 35 were named and 20 were unknown..[Follow our live-coverage of today's hearing]