The municipal council prohibits allocating land to Christians for prayer or burial

A press release issued by the local panchayat said constitutional provisions empowered them to take such decisions. Representative image | Photo credit: PRINCE FREDERICK

The gram sabha of Punpalli village panchayat in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district passed a resolution banning allotment of community land to Christians and converts for burial, church construction, prayers and religious gatherings.

A press release issued by the local panchayat said constitutional provisions empowered them to take such decisions; the Christian community said these orders violated their right to freedom of religion guaranteed by the constitution.

“As part of the resolution, it has been decided that Christians and converts will not be given any gram sabha land for burial, construction of churches, prayer meetings or religious gatherings. Not even an inch of gram sabha land will be given to them,” the October 2 report said.

Punapalli village has also installed an information board announcing that Christian priests and preachers are prohibited from entering the village for conversion, prayer meetings and other activities.

Protect “social cohesion”

The statement said the village assembly’s resolution “on religious activities and land in a scheduled area cites Article 244(1) of the Constitution of India, the Fifth Schedule, the PESA Act, 1996 and the amended Chhattisgarh PESA Rules 2022”. The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA), gives gram sabhas in Fifth Schedule Areas additional powers to protect and maintain traditional systems of governance.

Janpad Panchayat member and Bharatiya Yuva Morcha leader Madkam Bhima released a video statement saying the decisions were taken keeping in mind traditional systems, social unity and community interests.

Jagdalpur-based lawyer Pradeep Singh, who serves as the legal advisor to members of the Christian community in Bastar division (comprising seven districts including Sukma and Bastar), said such reasoning is against the right to freedom of religion and is a complete misinterpretation of PESA. “No fundamental right should be taken away because of any law. Yes, the law empowers the gram sabha to take decisions to protect their culture, but these rights should not be exercised in this way,” he said.

Bhupendra Khora of the Christian Progressive Alliance said other villages in Bastar had also adopted similar resolutions.

Published – 05 Oct 2026 22:52 IST