Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel has directed all medical and dental colleges across the state to immediately establish Religious Conversion Prevention Cells (Dharmantaran Roktham Cells), according to an official statement. The order follows two high-profile cases at premier Lucknow medical institutions that triggered statewide concern and community protests.

Background: The Cases That Triggered the Order

The directive comes in the wake of allegations against Rameezuddin Nayak, a former junior resident doctor at King George's Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow, who is accused of sexually exploiting female colleagues and coercing them into religious conversion. The case prompted a Special Task Force (STF) investigation and statewide directives to monitor medical campuses.

Separately, a 21-year-old woman — daughter of an employee at the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) — has been missing since 21 May. Her family filed a police complaint accusing a man named Irshad Ali of abduction, alleging stalking, blackmail, and a possible attempt to take her out of the country. The case has since sparked major community protests in Lucknow.

What the Cells Will Do

Following the Governor's orders, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University issued instructions to all affiliated institutions to constitute the cells without delay. According to the directives, the cells will be responsible for generating awareness among students, resident doctors, faculty, and staff regarding relevant legal provisions and institutional responsibilities.

The cells will also maintain vigilance over activities considered suspicious and ensure that concerns are reported and examined appropriately. Institutions have additionally been asked to conduct awareness campaigns and educational programmes covering applicable rules, legal safeguards, individual rights, and responsibilities.

All affiliated colleges have been directed to submit compliance reports to university authorities and put in place mechanisms for swift action upon receipt of any complaint.

Muslim Leaders Back the Initiative

Notably, several Muslim religious leaders have expressed support for the move, drawing a clear distinction between voluntary and forced conversion.

All India Shia Personal Law Board General Secretary Maulana Yasoob Abbas said, 'If a Governor takes steps in her state and looks at these issues, then in my opinion, there is nothing wrong with it. They are forming a Religious Conversion Prevention Cell because cases of religious conversion are coming forward. And the fact is that if someone's religion or faith is changed by force or coercion, then no religion or faith supports this.'

He added, 'Islam only supports willingness, not forcefulness. Hence, forming these cells is a good thing because cases of forced religious conversions are coming to light every day. Action should indeed be taken in this direction.'

Shia cleric Sayed Saif Abbas also backed the initiative, saying, 'Islam itself condemns forced religious conversion and does not permit such practices... if such a law is introduced to prevent any kind of misconduct in educational institutions, committees can certainly be formed for that purpose, and there is no objection to it. However, any such committee should function fairly and impartially.'

What Happens Next

Medical and dental colleges across Uttar Pradesh are expected to constitute the cells at the earliest, with compliance reports due to university authorities. The initiative marks a significant expansion of institutional oversight on campuses in the state, and its implementation — particularly how 'suspicious activities' are defined and monitored — is likely to face scrutiny from civil liberties groups in the weeks ahead.