Supreme Court Bench Orders Burial Of Pastor In Designated Place Away From Village

The Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on Monday regarding the burial of a pastor whose body has been in a Chhattisgarh mortuary since January 7.

The court ultimately directed that he be buried at a designated burial ground for Christians, 20 kilometers away from Chhindawada village.

Justice BV Nagarathna favored burial on the family’s private agricultural land, while Justice Satish Chandra Sharma insisted on a designated Christian burial ground. To avoid further delays, the bench decided against referring the matter to a larger bench and issued a conclusive order.

The court also instructed the state government to ensure full security during the burial to prevent any disruptions.

The controversy arose when villagers objected to the burial of the converted Christian in the village graveyard or even on private family land. The petitioner’s son, Ramesh Baghel, moved the apex court after the Chhattisgarh High Court disposed of his plea for burial in the area allocated for Christians within the village graveyard.

According to Baghel, the Chhindawada village graveyard, verbally allotted by the gram panchayat, had distinct sections for tribals, Hindus, and Christians. Baghel’s grandfather and aunt were previously buried in the Christian section of the same graveyard.

Despite this precedent, villagers opposed the burial of Baghel’s father, citing his conversion to Christianity.

The petitioner alleged that some villagers aggressively resisted and even issued threats to his family. “The villagers said a Christian couldn’t be buried in their village, whether in the graveyard or private land,” Baghel stated in his plea. When tensions escalated, 30-35 police personnel were deployed to the village.

However, Baghel claimed the police pressured the family to remove the body from the village instead of resolving the dispute.

During an earlier hearing on January 22, the Supreme Court had expressed its hope for an amicable resolution and a dignified burial for the pastor. However, the continuing conflict necessitated judicial intervention.

The court’s directive now provides closure to the months-long ordeal, allowing the pastor’s family to proceed with his burial in accordance with Christian rites at the designated site. The state government’s role in ensuring peace during the burial underscores the importance of maintaining communal harmony in sensitive matters.

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