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Religion
Chhattisgarh Village Refuses Burial Plot to Tribal Christians, Invokes PESA Act
✍️ The Indian Express
🗓 07 Oct 2026, 12:31 PM
👁 10
A village council in Chhattisgarh denied a burial site to tribal Christians, citing the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act. The decision has sparked concern among the community and could lead to legal scrutiny.
The gram panchayat of a remote Chhattisgarh village has refused to allocate a piece of land for a burial ground to a local tribal Christian family. Officials said the denial was made under the provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA), which they claim gives them exclusive authority over land matters in scheduled areas.
Under PESA, tribal self‑governance bodies are empowered to manage natural resources and land use within their jurisdictions. The village council argued that the requested plot falls under its jurisdiction and that allocating it to a religious minority could contravene the act's intent to preserve tribal customs.
Christian community leaders expressed disappointment, noting that the denial hampers a basic funeral rite. They indicated they may approach the district administration or the courts to contest the decision, asserting that the right to burial is a fundamental personal liberty not barred by PESA.
Local authorities have not yet issued a formal statement, and the matter remains under observation as both legal experts and human‑rights groups monitor the unfolding dispute.
Under PESA, tribal self‑governance bodies are empowered to manage natural resources and land use within their jurisdictions. The village council argued that the requested plot falls under its jurisdiction and that allocating it to a religious minority could contravene the act's intent to preserve tribal customs.
Christian community leaders expressed disappointment, noting that the denial hampers a basic funeral rite. They indicated they may approach the district administration or the courts to contest the decision, asserting that the right to burial is a fundamental personal liberty not barred by PESA.
Local authorities have not yet issued a formal statement, and the matter remains under observation as both legal experts and human‑rights groups monitor the unfolding dispute.