Placards banning entry of priests to oppose religious conversion are not unconstitutional !

Chhattisgarh High Court decision

Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) – The Chhattisgarh High Court has ruled that hoardings put up to prevent priests and Christians from entering the state to prevent conversions through luring or deception are not unconstitutional. Hoardings were put up in some villages in Kanker district of the state informing them that priests coming for conversions were banned. The High Court gave this verdict while hearing a petition filed seeking removal of these hoardings.

The writ petition filed by petitioner Digbal Tandy (a petition seeking urgent attention by the High Court or Supreme Court in cases of violation of fundamental constitutional rights) had demanded that the ‘banning of entry of priests and converted Christians within the village limits be removed’. He said that such bans were alienating the Christian community from the mainstream.

⚖️ Chhattisgarh HC: Boards banning priests & missionaries from villages not unconstitutional

📜 Gram Sabhas acted within law to protect tribal culture & stop forced conversions

🚫 Forced religious conversion termed a grave threat to tribal identity

🪶 Boards align with 5th… pic.twitter.com/42y3mfQjA3

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) November 3, 2025

Forced conversion is a serious concern ! – High Court

The high court said that the boards were put up by the gram sabhas for the welfare of the tribal community and to preserve their cultural heritage. Forced conversion is a serious concern and the boards put up to stop it are not unconstitutional.

The villagers claim that their decision to put up the boards is in line with the 5^th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which provides self-government and cultural protection to the areas of Scheduled Tribes. So far, 12 villages in Kanker district have put up such boards.

Christian missionaries began conversions in the name of social service !

The court observed that Christian missionary activity in India has been ongoing since the colonial period. During that time, Christian organisations had established schools, hospitals, and welfare institutions. Initially, these institutions were started for social upliftment, literacy, and healthcare; however, over time, some missionary groups began using these platforms for the purpose of religious conversion. Among economically and socially disadvantaged sections, particularly the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes; conversions were gradually carried out by offering assurances of better livelihood, education or equality.