Meghalaya HC seeks report on proposal to increase Christian cemeteries amid burial challenges
The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday directed the State to submit a report indicating if there is any proposal of increasing the number of cemeteries for members of the Christian community.
The bench comprising Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh said, “The State is also directed to file a report to indicate whether it has any existing or contemplated proposal of increasing the number of cemeteries for members of the Christian community.”
“A cemetery controlled by one denomination is not allowing dead bodies of persons belonging to another denomination to be interred in the same cemetery. The result is that in various regions of the State, a long distance has to be covered by members of the bereaved family to perform the last rites of the dead. There is also similar need for sharing of cemetery and for allocation of new areas to be used as cemeteries for the Christian community,” it said.
The bench had directed the Amicus Curiae N Syngkon to hold meetings with the concerned District Magistrates and members of the community to resolve the problem faced by the Christian community and file a report.
Meanwhile, the three autonomous district councils – Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council and Garo Hills Autonomous District Council – have also been made party respondents.
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