On 2 July 2021, the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the senior superintendent of police in Sangrur to safeguard a Muslim lady (and her husband) who converted to Hinduism in order to get married to a Hindu man.

The case of Rajina Aka Jyoti and her husband Jaspal Sharma was being heard by Justice Gurvinder Singh Gill's bench.

Fearing threats from private respondents, the couple had petitioned the court to issue a directive to official respondents to safeguard their lives and liberty as they married according to their families’ desires.

As a result, the petition was dismissed with a directive to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Sangrur, District Sangrur, Punjab, to investigate the matter and dispose of their representation in accordance with the law, without commenting on the veracity of the proceeding made in their petition or the validity of the petitioners' alleged marriage.

"If it is determined that there is a serious threat to the petitioners’ life and liberty", the Court said, “then the essential actions mandated by law be taken as soon as possible to guarantee that no hurt is made to the petitioners.”

In related news, the Delhi High Court on 5 July, 2021 extended the interim protection given to a Hindu woman who converted to Islam and sought shelter, stating she was facing a severe threat to her life and the lives of her immediate family members, who are allegedly being witch-hunted by Uttar Pradesh Police officials, until 22 July, 2021.

Earlier this week, the Delhi High Court awarded police protection to a Hindu girl who claimed that certain media outlets are harassing her by airing anti-Hindu programmes because she wishes to convert to Islam. Justice Subramonium Prasad instructed the SHO of Jamia Nagar to ensure that the girl has sufficient police protection till the next date of hearing, which is 26 July, 2021.

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