In the court order released last month, the Allahabad High Court affirmed that distributing Bibles and preaching religion are not crimes. This isn’t the first time a court in Uttar Pradesh has safeguarded the legal right to share one’s faith — see this 2023 ruling. 

The judges in Allahabad also critiqued the complainant’s charge on several points. They noted that it lacked any victim of alleged forced conversion, although a specific victim is required by law for such charges. To address this and other critiques, the court directed the state counsel to provide several pieces of information in a counter-affidavit.

“It’s been very, on one hand, reassuring that the courts are reading things according to the constitution and in favor of religious freedom,” says John Pudaite with Bibles For the World about this case. “At the same time, we continue to see these anti-conversion laws being used against the Christians, against pastors, against any assembly of worship, even in house churches. It’s a way that they can harass the Christians.”

An Indian woman holds her Bible (Photo, caption, courtesy of IMB)

Harassment can take many forms, but very often what it costs is time. This recent Uttar Pradesh accusation was filed in August 2025, and almost five months later, it is still ongoing. In a similar case, Christians were accused in 2022 of anti-conversion violations and not released from the legal battle until October 2025.

Please pray

Thank God for what appears to be swift justice in this recent case in Uttar Pradesh. Also, India’s Supreme Court is in the midst of reviewing the constitutionality of anti-conversion laws across the nation. Pray for a breakthrough against these laws.

Finally, pray for courage for Christians as they endure further legal challenges.

“Keep lifting up the Body of Christ here, and the pastors, the leadership. They’re the ones who are always facing the brunt of these attacks,” says Pudaite.

“We’ve been seeing some of our partners really step it up in terms of their work, their ministry, and their outreach. I’ve been really encouraged by that. They’re not backing down.”

Header photo of an Indian woman courtesy of IMB.