By ICC’s India Correspondent

10/21/2015 Washington, D.C. (International Christian Concern) – Christian leaders across India have hailed a recent high court order that has clamped down on village resolutions passed last year imposing a ban on non-Hindu religious activities in over 50 villages in India’s Chhattisgarh state. Though the court’s partial pronouncements have come as a ray of hope for many Christians living under these village resolutions, complete justice for distressed Christians in the region has been far from achieved.

While hearing a petition filed by the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum challenging the constitutionality of the bans on non-Hindu religious activities last Wednesday, October 14, Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava of the Chhattisgarh High Court passed an order saying that the resolutions banning non-Hindu religious activities should not “come in the way of exercising [the] fundamental right to preach and propagate religion.” This marked the first time that the Chhattisgarh government has taken steps to combat the resolutions that were first enforced in July 2014.

In June 2014, over 50 village counsels in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district passed resolutions under Section 129 (G) of the Chhattisgarh Panchayat Raj Act banning all “non-Hindu religious propaganda, prayers and speeches in the village.” This essentially made Christianity illegal. Following the resolutions being passed, a series of attacks were unleashed on the Christian community of Baster by Hindu hardline groups. Beyond the attacks, many of the Christian communities living under these resolutions were socially boycotted by other villagers, who did not allow them to purchase items from local stores, go to their fields to harvest crops, or even collect water from the village well.

Mr. Arun Pannalal, President of Chhattisgarh Christian Forum, said, “The Honorable High Court has partially addressed the injustice given to the Chhattisgarh Christian community. We believe [the] final order will uphold our freedoms and address the larger grievances of not allowing [the] construction of churches, [the] purchases of food grains, [access to] drinking water [and] laborers to work in their fields.”

The court order gave the advocate-general three weeks to seek instructions and make appropriate findings regarding the dispute raised before the High Court.

Pastor Rajesh Habil, a Christian leader from Jagdalpur, said, “The order of the High Court has come as great relief for Christians who are living under tremendous pressure.” However, Pastor Habil went on to say he is doubtful of the immediate effects of the court’s order on the ground.

“We are not aware of the High Court order in regards to [the] resolutions banning non-Hindu activities,” said Pastor John Massih of the Believers Church in Bastar district. “We have been facing a constant harassment by the Hindu militant groups. The latest is a false case that was booked against seven Christians in Karimeri village. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against them only two days back. The seven Christians have been accused of criminal activities against the Hindu community.”

According to Christians in another village in Bastar named Madota, village leaders convened a meeting on October 16 with an agenda of “re-converting” local Christians to Hinduism. The timing, according to the Christians in Madota, seemed suspicious as it was convened just two days after the High Court orders were released. A local Christian leader said, “It is possible that the event was motivated by the high court order. The village leaders kept on saying that the order will not have any effect as the Hindu radicals will continue their campaign.”

Christians are optimistic that the High Court’s order will, in a formal sense, uphold their constitutional rights. Unfortunately, the Christians are still concerned that the enforcement of these rights may be where the High Court’s order will fall short. So much has already happened under the watch of local authorities, who will be tasked with enforcing the High Court’s final decision. It is hard for local Christians to imagine that the High Court’s decision will functionally change their situation, and the attitudes of other villages, with the simple stroke of a pen.