Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 20: The Supreme Court recently heard a petition filed by Bengaluru Archbishop Peter Machado and others, which seeks robust measures to halt the rising tide of violence against Christians and protect their constitutional right to freely profess, practise, and propagate their faith.
The plea, titled 'Most Rev Peter Machado & Ors vs Union of India & Ors' and widely referred to as the 'violence petition', came up for hearing on July 15 before a bench comprising justice P S Narasimha and justice Alok Aradhe.
The petition highlights a disturbing trend of coordinated attacks and intimidation targeting Christian prayer gatherings, churches, and worship services across various states. It notes that such disruptions peak during major liturgical seasons and holy days like Christmas, Lent, Good Friday, and Easter, when devotees gather in large numbers. These incidents, the plea contends, are frequently executed under the guise of stopping alleged forced religious conversions, ultimately leading to the disruption of peaceful religious gatherings.
Highlighting the severity of the issue, the plea states that over 800 incidents of violence against the community were documented in 2025 alone. The persistent nature of the threat is further evidenced by 285 similar incidents reported in just the first six months of 2026.
The petition also draws the court's attention to the mass displacement of Christian families in the Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh following violence spurred by conversion allegations in 2022 and 2023. Dozens of families were uprooted from their homes, and shockingly, several victims were slapped with criminal charges instead of being offered state protection.
Assisted by ADF India allied lawyers, 38 of these Christians were finally acquitted by trial courts in February and April 2026 after the charges were found to be completely baseless. The plea points out that the ensuing years of displacement, uncertainty, and exhausting legal battles underscore the immense human cost inflicted on the affected families.
The petitioners assert that these systematic attacks are a gross violation of fundamental constitutional rights and a direct threat to the core values of secularism, fraternity, and the rule of law in the country.
They have urged the apex court to issue enforceable directives for preventive policing, ensure strict accountability for vigilante mobs, prevent the unfair application of criminal law so victims are not criminalised, and guarantee heightened security for Christian communities during periods of increased vulnerability.
Appearing for the petitioners, senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, alongside ADF India allied lawyers, submitted written argument notes which were taken on record by the court. Observing that it needed more time to thoroughly review the extensive submissions, the bench adjourned the matter.
The next hearing in the case is slated for August 21, subject to the matter being listed on that day.