Meghalaya HC Orders Government to Acquire Land for Communal Burial Grounds

Shillong, July 8 (PTI) — In a significant move, the Meghalaya High Court has directed the state government to swiftly initiate the process of acquiring land for the establishment of common burial grounds accessible to all faiths. This directive was issued on Monday during a hearing of a Public Interest Litigation concerning the shortage of burial grounds for various communities, including the Khasis and Jaintias.

The division bench, consisting of Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh, highlighted the pressing issue of insufficient public burial spaces and acknowledged the reluctance of certain religious groups to share private cemeteries with others.

Notably, the court observed that these groups have expressed no reservations about using cemeteries designated by the government for communal purposes, accommodating individuals of all faiths. To this end, the court noted that many villages possess community land that could be allocated for the purpose of common burial grounds.

The bench recommended a portion of these village lands might be donated for communal burial use. To advance this initiative, the court directed the formation of a committee led by the Chief Secretary. This committee is tasked with engaging all relevant stakeholders, such as tribal councils, churches, and administrative officials, to reach a consensus.

The committee will focus on the acquisition of land for common burial sites, address inter-denominational disputes regarding cemetery access, and explore the potential use of village lands for burial purposes. Moreover, the High Court instructed the amicus curiae in the case to present a report detailing the outcomes of all stakeholder meetings.

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