Petition challenges Karnataka govt’s survey on Christian missionary works and churches

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Oct 24, 2021: The Karnataka High Court on Monday will hear a petition challenging the Karnataka legislative committee’s directive to conduct a survey of churches and the functioning of Christian missionaries in the state.

The People’s Union For Civil Liberties (PUCL) has filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court challenging the Legislative House Committee’s directive to conduct a survey of Christian missionary works in the state.

On July 7, the Karnataka Legislative Committee on Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare issued instructions to district authorities to conduct a survey to ascertain how many of the 1,700-odd churches and prayer halls in the state were legal and also examine their activities.

The petition states that the order is "discriminatory" in nature and in "violation" of the Indian constitution. The government has not stated any reasons or the purpose for collecting data related to the location of the churches, Khata number, details of the church priest, the plea added.

Last week, several leaders from the Christian community had objected to the survey, alleging that it is maligning the entire community. Speaking to media Bengaluru archbishop, Peter Machado, called the move is “unnecessary”. “We consider this exercise as futile and unnecessary. There is no good will that will come out of it. In fact, in the background of the conversion bogey and anti-religious feelings that are being whipped up, it is dangerous to make such surveys," he had said.