Mon Jan 27 11:52:36 IST 2025: ## Supreme Court Orders Burial of Christian Pastor, Highlights Religious Discrimination

**New Delhi** – The Supreme Court today resolved a contentious case concerning the burial of Subhash Baghel, a Christian pastor who died in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district, ordering his burial in a nearby Christian graveyard. The court’s split decision, however, underscored deep-seated religious discrimination and the failure of local authorities to uphold constitutional rights.

Baghel’s son, Ramesh, petitioned the Supreme Court after villagers prevented the burial of his father in the village graveyard due to their conversion to Christianity. The Chhattisgarh High Court had previously expressed concern that proceeding with the burial in the village could incite unrest.

Justice B.V. Nagarathna, in a strongly worded judgment, criticized the village panchayat for its discriminatory actions and the police for issuing an affidavit stating that Christian converts could not be buried in the village. She deemed this a violation of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution (right to equality and right to life), highlighting the state’s failure to uphold secular principles. She further directed the state government to allocate designated Christian burial grounds across all states within two months.

However, Justice Satish Chandra Sharma disagreed with this directive, arguing that an unqualified right to burial in any location could disrupt public order. He supported the burial at a Christian cemetery 20 km away, emphasizing the state’s responsibility to provide necessary transportation and security.

Given the body had been in the morgue since January 7th, the Supreme Court opted against referring the matter to a larger bench. The court ultimately ordered the burial in Karakwal, directing the state to provide full logistical support. The case, while resolved, has exposed the challenges faced by religious minorities in accessing basic rights and the need for greater sensitivity and adherence to constitutional principles at the local level.

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