Sukma Gram Sabha bans land for Christian burials, invokes PESA

The elected village council (Gram Sabha) in Sukma, a district of the tribal‑dominant Bastar region in Chhattisgarh, passed a resolution that forbids the allocation of any communal land for Christian burial ceremonies or prayer meetings. The decision was taken during a regular Gram Sabha session and was justified by invoking the provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, which governs land use and cultural practices in scheduled areas.

According to the resolution, any request to earmark village plots for Christian funerary purposes will be rejected, and existing arrangements, if any, are to be discontinued. The Gram Sabha members argued that the move aligns with the intent of PESA to preserve tribal customs and prevent external influences on land use.

Local officials have been asked to enforce the resolution and ensure that no further land allocations are made for such purposes. The decision has drawn reactions from community members, but the Gram Sabha maintains that it is a lawful exercise of its authority under the act.

No further details on enforcement mechanisms or potential legal challenges have been released at this stage.