Shillong: In a significant directive aimed at addressing the acute shortage of burial spaces across Meghalaya, the High Court on July 7 mandated the state government to take immediate steps towards acquiring land for common burial grounds accessible to all faiths. The ruling came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation highlighting the pressing issue faced by various communities, including the Khasis and Jaintias.
A division bench, comprising Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh, acknowledged the severe dearth of public burial spaces and observed a prevailing reluctance among certain denominations to share their private cemeteries. Crucially, the court noted that while sharing private grounds was an issue, these groups expressed no objection to utilising cemeteries acquired and designated by the government for common use, irrespective of religious affiliation. The bench also suggested the potential use of community land in villages, stating, “Villages, or at least a significant number of them, have community land belonging to the village people in common. A part of it may be gifted for common burial purposes.”
To facilitate the implementation of its directive and foster consensus among diverse groups, the High Court ordered the formation of a high-level committee. This committee, to be headed by the Chief Secretary, will engage with all relevant stakeholders, including tribal councils, various church bodies, and administrative officials. Their deliberations will focus on the practicalities of acquiring land for these common burial grounds, establishing mechanisms to resolve any inter-denominational disputes regarding cemetery access, and exploring the feasibility of utilising existing village lands for burial purposes. The court further instructed the amicus curiae in the case to submit a comprehensive report detailing the minutes of all stakeholder meetings, ensuring transparency and accountability in the process.
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