The conversion of M Indira Gandhi's children to Islam is illegal as the permission of the mother had not been obtained and the children themselves did not affirm or recite the Kalimah Shahadah (affirmation of faith) as required, ruled Court of Appeal judge Hamid Sultan Abu Backer in his dissenting judgment on the controversial case.

Justice Hamid said in his 74-page judgment that for a valid administrative conversion to take place, the application must be made by the three children with the consent of both parents.