Mon Jan 27 12:02:00 IST 2025: ## Supreme Court Orders Burial of Christian Pastor After Three-Week Delay
**New Delhi** – The Supreme Court today issued a split verdict in the case of Subhash Baghel, a Christian pastor whose burial was delayed for nearly three weeks due to a dispute over his burial site in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district. While the court avoided referring the matter to a larger bench due to the body’s prolonged stay in the morgue, it ultimately ordered that Baghel be buried at a Christian graveyard 20 kilometers from his village.
The conflict arose when neighbors prevented the family from burying Baghel in the village burial ground following their conversion to Christianity. The Chhattisgarh High Court had previously expressed concerns that allowing the burial in the village could lead to law and order problems.
Justice B.V. Nagarathna, in her judgment, criticized the village panchayat for its discriminatory actions, stating that the denial of burial violated Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution (right to equality and right to life). She further condemned a police affidavit which stated that Christian converts could not be buried in the village grounds, calling it a violation of secular principles. While Justice Nagarathna also called for the state to designate Christian graveyards across the country within two months, Justice Satish Chandra Sharma disagreed with this directive.
Justice Sharma, while agreeing to the burial at the designated Christian graveyard, argued against an unqualified right to burial in any location, citing potential public order concerns. He emphasized the availability of a suitable burial ground just 20 kilometers away.
The Supreme Court ultimately directed the state administration to provide all necessary logistical support, including transport and security, for the burial at the Karakwal graveyard. The appeal was disposed of with the court stating the directions were issued to alleviate the family’s suffering. The case highlights the ongoing tensions and discrimination faced by religious minorities in certain regions of India.
First Piper 