MP High Court Grants Interim Protection To Christian Missionary Allegedly Involved In Illegal Religious Conversion

The Madhya Pradesh High Court at Jabalpur has issued an interim order protecting Dr Ajai Lall, the operator of a hospital in Damoh, from any further coercive action until the next hearing. This order comes amidst ongoing investigations and legal proceedings against Dr Lall, who has been charged with inter alia human trafficking, and illegal religious conversion.

Dr. Ajai Lall, a Christian missionary, filed a writ petition challenging the recent actions of the Damoh police in registering a fresh FIR against him arising out of the same incident, proceedings into which had been stayed by the Supreme Court. It was stated that the police had already booked him for alleged human trafficking, and after those proceedings were stayed by the Top Court, they had filed a fresh FIR to apprehend him.

The primary question revolved around whether the authorities could initiate fresh proceedings arising out of the same incident, in light of an earlier stay by the Supreme Court.

The petitioner argued that the Supreme Court had already granted interim protection and stayed the trial based on a previous FIR under the same provisions (Section 370 of the IPC) against him. It was stated that the current proceedings initiated by the authorities were a violation of the Supreme Court's order.

In light of the petition, Justice Sanjay Dwivedi directed that no further coercive action should be taken against Dr Ajai Lall until the next hearing scheduled for August 9, 2024. The petitioner was granted the liberty to amend the petition to directly challenge the fresh FIR.

Dr. Ajai Lall, who is also associated with several missionary organizations, operates a children's home under the Aadharshila organization in the Marutal area of Damoh.

Serious allegations had been made against him, claiming that the Aadharshila organization improperly adopted two children. The investigation, led by Priyank Kanoongo, Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, revealed that fake documents were allegedly prepared to facilitate these adoptions, with the ulterior motive of religious conversion.

Dr. Ajai Lall has been under house arrest for the past two days. When the police attempted to arrest him following the registration of the new FIR, he was not found at home. This raised concerns that he might flee the country, prompting the Madhya Pradesh Police Department to alert both the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs.

The charges against Dr. Ajai Lall are serious, including human trafficking and the use of fraudulent documents for the adoption and alleged conversion of children.

The FIR registered by the Damoh police intensified the scrutiny of his activities, not only as a hospital operator but also as a director of a nursing college and a children's home under the Aadharshila organization.

Advocate Tankha, representing Dr. Ajai Lall, argued that the respondent-authorities, by registering another FIR under the same provisions, violated the interim protection granted by the Supreme Court in the pending Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No. 16122/2023.

The Deputy Advocate General B.D. Singh, appearing for the respondents, requested time to seek instructions, as he had received the copy of the petition on the same day. The Court acknowledged the need for a detailed examination of the petitioner's claims and the respondent's defence.

The next hearing is scheduled for August 9, 2024.

Case title: Dr. Ajai Lall Vs The State Of Madhya Pradesh And Others

Citation: WP-23048-2024

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