Case at a glance

• Case name: Indira Gandhi a/p Mutho v Pengarah Jabatan Agama Islam Perak & Ors
• Citation: [2018] 1 MLJ 545
• Court: Federal Court of Malaysia
• Year: 2018
• Practice area: Family Law

Background and facts

Indira Gandhi’s three children were unilaterally converted to Islam by her ex-husband (who had himself converted) without her knowledge or consent. The conversions were registered with the Perak Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAIP). She sought judicial review in the High Court to challenge the validity of the conversions.

The Court of Appeal had earlier ruled that the High Court had no jurisdiction to question the validity of an Islamic conversion certificate — that, it said, was the exclusive province of the Syariah Court.

The issue before the court

Does the civil High Court have jurisdiction to review the lawfulness of a unilateral conversion of a minor child to Islam by one parent, where the other parent (a non-Muslim) was not a party and did not consent?

Holding and reasoning

The Federal Court unanimously held that the civil High Court does have jurisdiction. The court emphasised that judicial review of administrative action — including the validity of a conversion certificate issued by a religious authority — is a matter of constitutional and civil law, not Syariah law. The Federal Court ruled the conversions of the three children invalid because both parents had not consented as required by Article 12(4) of the Federal Constitution (read with the relevant State law).

Why this case still matters

The decision has wide-ranging consequences:

• Civil High Court jurisdiction is broad. Judicial review under Order 53 of the Rules of Court 2012 reaches administrative acts of religious authorities where civil rights are engaged.
• Both-parent consent is required for a minor’s religious conversion under Article 12(4) of the Federal Constitution, not just one.
• Custody after conversion. A non-Muslim parent retains custody rights and can pursue them in the civil family court — they are not stripped of jurisdiction simply because the other parent converts.
• Practical effect for our clients — non-Muslim spouses navigating divorces where the other spouse converts now have a clear constitutional remedy in the civil High Court.

Frequently asked questions

Does Indira Gandhi mean civil courts can decide who is a Muslim?

No. The civil court does not decide religious status. It can review whether the administrative act of issuing a conversion certificate complied with the law — which is a different question.

What if my spouse converts during our marriage and converts our children?

Indira Gandhi confirms that a unilateral conversion of children without both parents’ consent is unlawful. We can file judicial review proceedings in the civil High Court to challenge the conversion.

Does this case apply to Johor and other states?

Yes — it is a Federal Court decision and applies nationwide, although the precise statutory provisions differ by state.

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