Belagavi
The Supreme Court has taken up a petition filed by Archbishop of Bangalore Peter Machado and others seeking stronger measures to prevent violence against Christians and safeguard their constitutional right to freely practise and propagate their faith.
The matter, known as the “Violence Petition”, was heard on July 15 by a Bench of Justice P S Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe.
The petition alleges repeated attacks on Christian prayer meetings, churches and worship services across several states, often linked to allegations of religious conversions. It claims that over 800 incidents of violence against Christians were reported in 2025 and 285 cases in the first six months of 2026.
It also highlights the displacement of Christian families in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district following violence over conversion allegations.
The petition seeks preventive policing, strict action against vigilante violence and better protection for Christian communities during major festivals.
The Bench adjourned the matter for further examination. The next hearing is scheduled for August 21.
