2/5/2025 India (International Christian Concern) — On Jan. 27, the Supreme Court of India gave the government of Chhattisgarh a two-month deadline to demarcate exclusive burial sites for Christians to prevent disputes over burial grounds in the state.
The directive came after a Christian man sought justice from the highest echelons of the judiciary to bury his father in his native village when local authorities, including the regional court, rejected his plea.
This judicial directive provides a huge relief for many Christians in the state. Many hope it will help diffuse the severe opposition that arises whenever a Christian family attempts to bury a loved one.
Throughout Chhattisgarh, village authorities have persecuted Christians by denying them the right to Christian burial. In many instances, these denials have led to violence.
The case, filed by Ramesh Baghel on behalf of his deceased father, stirred a nationwide debate and raised a fundamental issue of whether the right to burial falls under the ambit of constitutional rights. Ultimately, due to the Supreme Court’s split verdict, Baghel was able to bury his father in a Christian cemetery about 30 miles from his village.
Ramesh Baghel’s father died on Jan. 7. Ramesh filed a petition to bury his father on Jan. 11 in the regional court after opposition from the villagers and the local authorities. The regional court also dismissed his appeal.
On Jan. 17, he appealed to the Supreme Court. On Jan. 27, the Supreme Court bench comprising Justice B. V. Nagarathna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma delivered the split verdict.
Despite their disagreement, they chose not to refer the dispute to a larger bench but instead issued a consensual direction allowing the burial at a designated Christian burial site. The larger question of burial rights, however, remains unresolved.
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