Chhattisgarh gram sabha bars community land allotment for churches, cemeteries in Sukma

A special gram sabha in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district has passed a resolution prohibiting the allotment of community land to Christians and converted persons for burial, construction of churches, prayer meetings and other religious activities.

The resolution was passed on October 2 at Punpalli village under Konta Janpad Panchayat and was based on provisions cited from Article 244(1) of the Constitution, the Fifth Schedule, the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, and the amended Chhattisgarh PESA law of 2022, according to the village panchayat.

"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 panchayat said in a statement.

It said any dispute or law-and-order situation arising from the decisions would be brought to the notice of the concerned administrative and legal authorities and dealt with through the prescribed legal procedure.

The panchayat said the resolution was aimed at protecting the village's cultural identity, traditions, customs and social heritage under the PESA framework.

It has also put up an information board stating that the entry of priests and Christian preachers into the village for religious conversion, prayer meetings and other activities would be prohibited.

Janpad Panchayat member and BJP Yuva Morcha leader Madkam Bhima said the special gram sabha discussed issues concerning the traditional social and cultural system, community interests and religious activities.

"The gram sabha passed 12 proposals, including one to constitute a 'Shanti and Nyay Samiti' (Peace and Justice Committee). If any outsider enters the village for religious preaching or other such activities, the Shanti and Nyay Samiti will have to be informed first," Bhima said in a video statement.

He said the gram sabha also resolved that land within the gram panchayat limits would not be provided for burying the bodies of families who had converted.

The panchayat said sarpanch Sonmati Madvi, village head Barse Soma, deputy sarpanch Muchki Nanda, gram patel Barse Pandu and other representatives and villagers attended the special gram sabha.

Bhima said the decisions were taken keeping in mind the traditional system, social unity and community interests of the village.

"The decisions of the gram sabha should be respected and all issues should be resolved in accordance with the law and constitutional procedure. This is our priority," he said.

A gram sabha in a Fifth Schedule Scheduled Area comprises all registered voters of the village. Under PESA, such gram sabhas and panchayats have additional powers aimed at protecting traditional systems of governance and community interests in Scheduled Areas.