The Chhattisgarh High Court has warned that mass religious conversions of tribal communities by missionaries are threatening India’s unity, leading to social polarisation, loss of indigenous culture, and even violent clashes in rural areas.
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CHHATTISGARH: The Chhattisgarh High Court has expressed serious concern over the rising incidents of mass religious conversions among tribal communities, observing that such practices are leading to social tension, boycotts, and violence in several parts of the State.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru highlighted that while the Indian Constitution guarantees the freedom to propagate religion under Article 25, the misuse of this right through coercion, inducement, or deception cannot be tolerated.
Court’s Observation
The Bench observed that induced or motivated religious conversions, particularly among the poor and illiterate tribal and rural populations, have become a major source of controversy.
“The menace arises when conversion ceases to be a matter of personal faith and becomes a result of inducement, manipulation, or exploitation of vulnerability,”
the Court said.
It added that missionary activities, once perceived as service-oriented, have in some cases turned into instruments of religious expansion. The Court noted allegations that missionary groups offer monetary aid, free education, medical care, or jobs to poor tribal families in exchange for conversion.
Such practices, the judges remarked, amount to “cultural coercion” and distort the voluntary nature of faith, leading to social fragmentation within tribal communities.
The High Court emphasized that tribal life and culture are deeply tied to indigenous faiths, rituals, and communal practices.
“Conversion disrupts this organic connection. The erosion of tribal faiths often results in the loss of indigenous languages, rituals, and customary laws,”
the Court observed.
The Bench also pointed out that converted individuals often face social rejection and political complications, as conversion may affect Scheduled Tribe or Scheduled Caste status—altering demographic and electoral patterns.
While reaffirming India’s secular and pluralistic fabric, the Court clarified that the right to propagate religion does not include the right to convert others by inducement, force, or fraudulent means.
“When conversion becomes a calculated act of exploitation disguised as charity, it undermines both faith and freedom,”
the Court remarked, calling such acts a “social menace” threatening the unity of India’s indigenous communities.
The judgment came in response to petitions alleging discrimination against Christians after several villages in Kanker District erected hoardings prohibiting the entry of pastors and “converted Christians.”
The Court found that these hoardings were installed by Gram Sabhas under the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) as precautionary measures to protect local culture and prevent illegal conversions.
It clarified that the State Government’s circular did not authorize any discrimination, and the hoardings merely restricted conversion-related activities, not the entry of Christians in general.
Dismissing the petitions, the High Court advised the petitioners to approach the Gram Sabha and, if needed, appeal before the Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue). It further stated that anyone facing threats or restrictions could seek police protection.
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Appearance:
The petitioners: Advocates Kishore Narayan, Arpit Lall and Ayush Lall
The State: Additional Advocate General YS Thakur
Other respondents: Advocates Sangharsh Pandey, Anupam Dubey, B Gopa Kumar, Himanshu Pandey, Palash Tiwari, Rohit Sharma, Harshal Chouhan, Mahesh Kumar Mishra, Vaibhav P Shukla, Vivek Kumar Agrawal and Jay Singh
Case Title:
Digbal Tandi v State of Chhattisgarh
WPPIL No. 83 of 2025
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