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Religion
Chhattisgarh High Court Rules Religious Bodies Cannot Act as Courts
✍️ The Hindu
🗓 09 Sep 2026, 11:33 AM
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The Chhattisgarh High Court held that no religious institution has the authority to function as a judicial forum, reinforcing the separation of religion and law in the state.
The Chhattisgarh High Court delivered a clear verdict stating that religious organisations cannot assume the role of a court. The bench emphasized that adjudication is a function exclusively vested in the formal judicial system, and any attempt by a faith‑based body to resolve disputes as a court would be ultra vires.
The judgment arose from a petition challenging the practice of a local religious group that was conducting informal dispute‑resolution sessions, which the petitioner claimed amounted to an illegal exercise of judicial power. The court dismissed the claim, reiterating that the Constitution guarantees a secular legal framework where only courts established under law may dispense justice.
Legal experts noted that the ruling reaffirms the principle of secularism enshrined in the Indian Constitution and prevents potential misuse of religious authority in civil matters. The decision is expected to guide lower courts and administrative bodies when addressing similar claims across the state.
The judgment arose from a petition challenging the practice of a local religious group that was conducting informal dispute‑resolution sessions, which the petitioner claimed amounted to an illegal exercise of judicial power. The court dismissed the claim, reiterating that the Constitution guarantees a secular legal framework where only courts established under law may dispense justice.
Legal experts noted that the ruling reaffirms the principle of secularism enshrined in the Indian Constitution and prevents potential misuse of religious authority in civil matters. The decision is expected to guide lower courts and administrative bodies when addressing similar claims across the state.