Burial of dead of Pentecost Christians: HC disposes petition

The Madras High Court today disposed a petition seeking a direction to prevent Pentecost faction Christians from 'burying' their dead at the corner of a tank in a village on the ground that groundwater will be contaminated.
The bench came down on the attitude of public in fighting over even a burial place and said it could not interfere with the arrangements made by the Dindigul Revenue Divisional officer to bury Pentecost Christians on land alloted near a water body at A.Vellodu village in the district.
"Christianity has no caste system. What is prevalent in Hinduism appears to have percolated into the Christian religion. Does the Holy Bible allows this practise? It is left to the conscience of the practitioners of the religion."

"Religious belief and customs may vary in the matter of disposal of dead bodies. The place of burial is visited by family members and friends as a mark of respect and to pay homage and there should be no fight there," the bench, comprising Justices S Manikumar and G Chockalingam said.
It said considering the ground reality, the Pentecost faction could be allowed to bury bodies of their loved ones on a site allotted above the water tank. Till a permanent solution was found, none should raise objections, they said.
Petitioner P.Joseph Raj sought a direction to restrain officials from burying the bodies at a corner of the tank as it was the only water source for the village.

The petitioner said there are two burial grounds including one for Roman Catholic Christians, where Pentecost Christians were not allowed to bury their dead. They could be allowed to do so in one of the grounds, he contended.

Joseph Raj submitted it was duty of officials to protect water bodies and not allow them to be used as burial grounds. If this was allowed, then the water would get contaminated.
The bench rejected his plea to exhume bodies already buried and referred to the report of revenue officials, which mentioned there are separate burial grounds for Christian Nadars (Roman Catholic) Vokkaliga Gowders and Hindu Pallars.

The judges said there was no hatred when organs were transplanted and blood transfused and wondered why there was intolerance in fighting for space over a burial ground.
They said an amicable solution should be found to such issues.