The Chhattisgarh High Court recently disposed of a petition filed by the United Christian Council, directing the District Magistrate, Durg to consider and decide on the representations made by the petitioner.
The petitioner had sought relief against certain oral instructions allegedly issued by the administration, restricting the entry of non-Christian persons in churches and prayer meeting halls in Durg District.
The petitioner, a registered organization, submitted that the administration had been issuing oral instructions to its officials, which included restrictions on the entry of non-Christian persons in churches and prayer meeting halls, limitations on prayer meetings in existing churches and prayer halls built on private land, and restrictions on prayer meetings in rented church and prayer meeting halls.
The petitioner also alleged that the administration had been asking Christian minority institutions to maintain records of persons attending and visiting churches and prayer meeting halls.
The High Court, comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad, observed that the District Magistrate, Durg had not decided on the representations made by the petitioner despite receiving them on April 8, 2024, and August 5, 2024.
The court directed the District Magistrate to consider and decide on the representations made by the petitioner within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of the court’s order.