Sun Nov 02 13:10:28 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:
Chhattisgarh High Court Upholds Hoardings Restricting Pastors, Converts in Tribal Villages
Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh – November 2, 2025 – The Chhattisgarh High Court has ruled that hoardings erected in eight villages restricting the entry of pastors and converted Christians are constitutional, dismissing petitions seeking their removal. The court, citing Supreme Court judgments, determined that the hoardings, installed to prevent forced religious conversions through “allurement or fraudulent means,” do not violate the Constitution.
The case stemmed from petitions filed by Digbal Tandi and Narendra Bhavani, who alleged the hoardings and resolutions by village councils (gram sabhas) segregated Christians from the broader community. These actions, they argued, violated Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, guaranteeing freedom of religion.
The gram sabhas erected the hoardings under the guise of protecting the local tribal heritage and culture in response to alleged illegal conversions. The state government argued that the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA Act), empowers gram sabhas to safeguard local cultural heritage from destructive behaviors, including forced conversions.
The court sided with the state, emphasizing that the hoardings primarily target individuals from outside the villages suspected of conducting illegal conversions. The judges also noted that the petitioners failed to exhaust other legal avenues before approaching the high court and advised them to seek police protection if they face threats or restrictions. The court’s decision has ignited debate regarding religious freedom and the rights of tribal communities to preserve their cultural heritage.
First Piper 