Village council bans allotment of 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 has passed a resolution banning allotment of community land to Christians and converts for burial, construction of churches, prayer, and religious meetings. 

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

“Under the resolution, it was decided that no gram sabha land would be provided to Christians and converted persons for burial, construction of churches, prayer meetings or religious meetings. Not even an inch of gram sabha land would be given to them,” the release dated October 2 said.