MP High Court Stays Coercive Action Against School Peon Transferred Over Allegations Of Religious Conversion

The Madhya Pradesh High Court directed authorities not to take any coercive action against a school peon who was transferred to a school 40 km away for allegedly converting to another faith and for influencing others to convert religion. Accordingly to the facts, the petitioner was appointed as a clerk in Madhyamik Vidyalaya Sultanpur by the Dhar District Collector on January 19, 2004. It is claimed that since the petitioner belonged to the Scheduled Caste, he allegedly faced all kinds of discrimination and wrong treatment. On September 30, 2025, the Sarpanch and Up Sarpanch of the Gram Panchayat of Sultanpur transferred the petitioner to a Block Education Office, Sardarpur, which is 40 km away. It was alleged that the transfer was made on the grounds that the petitioner had converted to a Christianity and was influencing others to convert to the religion by luring them with money. The petitioner filed a writ petition contending that the transfer order was passed without conducting an inquiry merely by casting stigma and therefore the order was violative of Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution. It was contended that even if the petitioner changed his religion, it would still not authorize such transfer orders, citing Article 25 of the Constitution. Additionally, he asserted that clause 5 of the Recruitment of Officers/Employees at the State and District Level Transfer Policy, 2025, restricts the transfer of a class 4 employee without taking permission from the collector and the Ministry. It was claimed that the order was passed solely due to political vendetta and personal disputes. Thus, the petitioner sought to quash the impugned order. The state, however, prayed for time to seek instruction, which was granted. The bench of Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla directed;"Till then no coercive action shall be taken against the petitioner for not joining at the transferred place. List on 16.10.2025". Case Title: Shalinder Kumar Farend v State of MP [WP-40224-2025]For Petitioner: Advocate Murtuza BohraFor State: Advocate Rajwardhan GawdeClick here to read/download the Order

MP High Court Stays Coercive Action Against School Peon Transferred Over Allegations Of Religious Conversion

Jayanti Pahwa

Tags