Delhi High Court Addresses Concerns Over Christian Burial Grounds
The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the Delhi government, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) following a petition concerning the insufficient availability of burial spaces for Christians in the city. The hearing took place on Wednesday in front of a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia.
The court observed that, according to the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, the MCD is tasked with regulating and maintaining spaces designated for the disposal of the dead. The bench highlighted that facilitating burial grounds and cemeteries is a fundamental responsibility of the MCD, emphasizing the necessity for designated spaces where citizens can perform last rites.
The court has directed the MCD to provide a comprehensive list of existing Christian cemeteries and burial grounds under its jurisdiction, along with details about the available space for such purposes. The court has scheduled the next hearing for November 4.
PIL Filed by Legal Christians Action Committee
The directive from the court is a response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Legal Christians Action Committee. The petitioners are advocating for the identification and allocation of suitable land for a Christian cemetery within Delhi, citing a dire shortage of burial spaces in the capital.
The PIL notes that existing cemeteries in areas such as Burari, Patel Chest, Paharganj, Mangolpuri, and Prithviraj Road have reached full capacity. This shortage has reportedly compelled families to transport their deceased loved ones to neighboring states like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh for burial.
The petition further states that since June 2025, the committee has been in contact with the DDA and MCD, utilizing representations and a Right to Information (RTI) application, yet no substantial actions have been undertaken. It was noted that the DDA had initially identified three potential sites for new cemeteries at Khajuri Khas, near Rajiv Gandhi Hospital, and Sundar Nagri. However, the latter two sites were dismissed, and although Khajuri Khas was considered for processing, it was later declared unavailable for allotment.
The PIL was submitted to the court by advocates Nagmani Kumar and Abhinav Kumar, representing the Legal Christians Action Committee.
