Supreme Court Stays Exhumation of Tribal Christian Bodies in Chhattisgarh Villages

New Delhi, 19 February 2026 — Putting an immediate halt to further disturbance of graves, the Supreme Court of India on Wednesday restrained any additional exhumation of bodies of tribal Christians buried in villages across Chhattisgarh. The interim order was passed while hearing a public interest litigation filed under Article 32 of the Constitution challenging the alleged digging up of graves and relocation of the deceased without the consent of their families.

A Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria directed that “no further exhumation of buried bodies shall be permitted” until the case is heard in greater detail. The Court also issued notice to the Chhattisgarh government, requiring its response within four weeks to the allegations raised by the petitioners.

The petition, brought by the Chhattisgarh Association for Justice and Equality along with pastors, social activists, a doctor and local residents, contends that tribal Christians are being prevented from burying their deceased in village burial grounds and that in several instances, bodies were allegedly dug up and taken to distant or undisclosed locations without the knowledge or consent of grieving families. According to court filings, some of these reburials reportedly occurred more than 50 kilometres from the original grave sites.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, representing the petitioners, told the Court that Christian families in multiple districts of southern Chhattisgarh — including Bastar, Kanker and Dantewada — have faced repeated obstruction when they attempted to bury their dead in traditional village graveyards, a right he said is enjoyed by other communities. The petitioners argue that these actions violate fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution, including the right to equality before the law, the right to freedom of religion and the right to life with dignity.

The order’s interim protection halts further exhumations and relocations until the Supreme Court examines the legal and constitutional issues at a future hearing, which has been scheduled after four weeks.

Courtesy: Bar and Bench