Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel has directed all state-run universities and higher education institutes to set up anti-conversion cells, making vice-chancellors and directors responsible for protecting students and their independence.
Functionaries at the Governor’s office claim that the directive follows recent controversies reported from King George’s Medical University (KGMU) and Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) in Lucknow, where allegations related to ‘love jihad’ and conversion through inducement have surfaced.
In an order issued to vice-chancellors of state universities and directors of government institutes, the governor has said that reports have emerged of attempts to influence students toward religious conversion through inducements and psychological pressure. She emphasised that higher educational institutions are not only centres of learning and innovation but also play a crucial role in shaping the moral, intellectual and social character of young people. Therefore, the safety, autonomy and freedom of thought of students must be protected, she said.
The order says that any form of religious conversion carried out through inducement, fear, coercion, or psychological pressure is not only illegal but also unethical. Universities have been instructed to ensure a safe environment and prevent any undesirable activities on campuses.
State government functionaries called it an important order. One functionary at the Chief Minister’s Office told ThePrint, “The Governor serves as the Chancellor of most state universities in Uttar Pradesh. In that role she has powers related to the appointment of Vice-Chancellors, oversight of universities, and issuing directions to universities. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is also serious about these issues and already directed police officials to take strict action.”
Everybody doesn’t see it that way. According to Roop Rekha Verma, former Vice-Chancellor of Lucknow University, the order is “completely biased” and could lead to increased targeting of minorities. “For the past several years, minorities have been targeted in educational institutions. We have seen people belonging to a particular ideology leading these institutions. Earlier, such interference did not take place. I am not in favour of such cells in any educational institutes, I am completely opposed to such orders,” she said.
On the other hand, Professor A.P. Tiwari, former Dean of Academics at Shakuntala Mishra National Rehabilitation University, defended the move. “If the Governor has received complaints of this nature, there is nothing wrong with setting up such cells. We have heard about cases like the one at KGMU. Therefore, such cells can be established, but they must function without any bias,” he said.
Six-point action plan
In her letter, the Governor has suggested six measures for vice-chancellors and directors to implement. One of these is to strengthen the ‘mentor-mentee’ system by ensuring that each faculty member regularly interacts with at least 25 students to understand and address their academic, personal and family-related concerns.
Universities have also been directed to set up anti-radicalisation cells, activate student welfare cells and maintain regular communication with parents. The Governor has stressed the need for robust counselling centres on campuses to identify and support students facing psychological pressure or inducement while maintaining confidentiality.
She has also called for strict control over the entry of unauthorised persons into hostels and campuses through regular surprise inspections. Institutions have been asked to promote ethical values, rational thinking and awareness of legal rights among students. The letter also directs university authorities to immediately report any suspicious activities related to alleged unlawful religious conversion to the police for action under the relevant laws.
The cases that hurt
According to sources in the Governor’s office, two incidents in the past few months triggered Anandiben Patel to write the letter. One of the incidents cited in public discussions involved a woman doctor on whose complaint an FIR was registered at Lucknow’s Chowk Police Station in December last year against Dr Ramizuddin Nayak of KGMU’s Pathology Department.
According to the police, the case was registered under provisions related to sexual relations obtained through deception or false promises, forced abortion, criminal intimidation, and Sections 3 and 5(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021. Police arrested the accused as well as his parents after investigators alleged their involvement in the conversion-related aspects of the case.
The complainant alleged that woman had entered into a relationship with the accused after meeting him in July. She later became pregnant and claimed that she was forced to undergo an abortion.
A separate case emerged from the SGPGI campus, where an employee lodged a complaint regarding the disappearance of his 21-year-old daughter.
According to the family, the woman left home on 21 May 2026 for work-related purposes in the nearby Telibagh market but never returned. Relatives alleged that surveillance footage captured her movements and has been preserved for investigation.
The family accused a man identified as Irshad Ali of taking the woman with him. They claimed he was known to the family and had been visiting their home. The complaint further alleged that despite earlier complaints against him, no effective action was taken.
The family has also accused an SGPGI doctor of assisting the accused, although these allegations have not been officially verified and investigations are ongoing. According to the complaint, the accused allegedly harassed the woman through phone calls, created objectionable photographs of her and made threats after her parents objected to his conduct. The family further alleged that he had threatened to send her to Syria. The police are investigating all aspects of the case.
Reacting to the Governor’s directive, Samajwadi Party spokesperson Manoj Kaka said the BJP government was attempting to divert attention from issues affecting students. He alleged that while fee hikes and caste discrimination in educational institutions were becoming major concerns in Uttar Pradesh, the government continued to focus on Hindu-Muslim issues instead.
“The Governor should also take note of rising fees and caste-based discrimination. Unfortunately, the BJP ecosystem does not pay attention to these issues,” he said.
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)
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