Chhattisgarh Villages Erect Hoardings Banning Entry of Pastors; HC Says 'Not Unconstitutional'

Chattisgarh, Nov 2, 2025: At least eight villages in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district have put up hoardings prohibiting the entry of pastors and “converted Christians,” a move that has caused anxiety among members of the local Christian community. The banners, displayed at village entrances, claim to prevent “forced religious conversions” and have sparked debate over their legality and impact on religious freedom.

A petition filed by Kanker resident Digbal Tandi sought the removal of these hoardings, arguing that they segregate the Christian community and its leaders from the wider village population. The plea alleged that the state’s Panchayat Department had directed local governing bodies to pass resolutions under the campaign “Hamari Parampara Hamari Virasat” (Our Tradition, Our Heritage), effectively instructing villages to ban pastors and “converted Christians.” It also claimed that provisions of the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), 1996, were being misused to fuel religious division.

However, the Chhattisgarh High Court dismissed the petition, stating that such hoardings—intended to prevent conversions by “allurement or fraudulent means”—could not be considered unconstitutional. In its order dated 28 October, the division bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru observed, “The hoardings appear to have been installed by the concerned Gram Sabhas as a precautionary measure to protect the interest of indigenous tribes and local cultural heritage.”

During the hearing, Additional Advocate General Y. S. Thakur argued that the PESA rules empower gram sabhas to safeguard local customs, deities, and cultural institutions from any destructive influences. He stated that the hoardings were limited to restricting pastors from other villages who allegedly engage in illegal conversions through inducement, adding that such practices had led to law-and-order disturbances, including the 2023 riots in Narayanpur district, where a church was vandalised and police personnel assaulted.

Referring to Supreme Court precedents, the bench concluded that “the installation of the hoardings for preventing forcible conversion by way of allurement or fraudulent means cannot be termed as unconstitutional.” The court also noted that the petitioner had not pursued other statutory remedies before approaching the High Court, emphasising that such channels should be exhausted first.

The judgment has drawn concern from sections of the Christian minority, who fear that these village-level prohibitions could legitimise discrimination and further isolate their community in the region.

By Catholic Connect Reporter

Credits: The Indian Express