A Malaysian court has handed an Indian-origin Hindu man the custody of his six children, a month after they were allegedly taken away by Islamic authorities to stay with their Muslim mother.

P. Marimuthu and Raimah Bibi Noordin reached a court settlement regarding child custody Thursday.

Despite living together for 21 years, the couple's marriage was not seen as 'legal' and they were forcibly separated last month by Islamic authorities on religious grounds.

Marimuthu then asked Malaysia's Islamic affairs department to bring his family to court. The department had indicated that the couple could not live together as Marimuthu had not converted to Islam, as required by law, for their marriage to be legal.

Raimah, however, in an affidavit filed Thursday said she and the children had left their house April 2 of their own free will as Marimuthu was forcing them to practise Hinduism, the New Straits Times reported.

Now with the court verdict in his favour, Marimuthu plans to raise his children in the Hindu faith. Raimah was given visiting rights by the court.