India: Supreme Court Orders Halt to Forced Exhumation of Christian Graves in Chhattisgarh
The United Christian Forum (UCF) has welcomed the recent interim order of the Supreme Court of India directing an immediate halt to the illegal exhumation of Christian graves in the central indian state of Chhattisgarh. The Forum expressed hope that this strong judicial intervention will put an end to the disturbing and inhuman practice of forcibly unearthing the bodies of deceased Christians in several tribal villages.
The interim order, issued on December 19, 2025, by a Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N. V. Anjaria, directed that no further exhumation of buried bodies shall be permitted until further hearing. The Court also issued notice to the State government. The order followed a public interest petition filed by the Chhattisgarh Association for Justice and Equality, supported by pastors, social activists, professionals, and affected villagers.
Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the petitioners, highlighted the grave challenges faced by Christian families, especially in the southern and tribal regions of the State. He pointed out that burial grounds traditionally used by all villagers are increasingly being restricted, forcing Christian families to abandon their faith practices as a condition for burial. In several cases, bodies have reportedly been forcibly exhumed and reburied at distant locations, sometimes more than 50 kilometres away.
The petition described these acts as cruel and degrading, and a violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. It also documented alleged instances of police inaction or complicity, arrests of pastors, and intimidation of grieving families. One shocking incident from Bastar district reportedly involved the exhumation and cremation of a Christian man’s remains, allegedly intended to terrorise the local community.
The petitioners urged the Court to frame clear guidelines to prevent interference in lawful burials and to ensure that every citizen, irrespective of religion or tribal identity, has the right to be buried in their home village. They also called for common burial grounds and equal access to cemeteries to promote social harmony.
Dr. Michael Williams, National President of UCF, praised the Court’s intervention and appealed to the State authorities to strictly implement the order. He stressed that protecting burial rights is essential to uphold human dignity, constitutional guarantees, and religious freedom.
UCF also noted that the order comes amid what it described as a worrying pattern of violations and hostility against Christians in several States, including Odisha and Jharkhand. The Forum documented 23 burial-related incidents in 2025, most of them in Chhattisgarh. These incidents include denial of access to cemeteries, forced exhumations, violence, and pressure to renounce faith.
The organisation urged governments and local administrations to ensure equal access to burial spaces, protect minority rights, and prevent further trauma to grieving families. UCF expressed hope that the Supreme Court’s order will help restore peace, justice, and dignity, and strengthen India’s constitutional commitment to religious freedom and equality for all.
