The Manipur High Court has struck down a village law of Sharkaphung/Leingangching that prevented inhabitants from any activity construed as ‘detrimental’ to Baptist Christianity.

Delivering a judgment on a plea by four residents expelled in 2009 for adopting Roman Catholicism, the high court ruled that the village authority’s action was illegal and unconstitutional. The village authority did not have power to order banishment/expulsion of any villager, ruled acting Chief Justice N.Kotiswar Singh.

“The villagers of Leingangching have every right to follow the Baptist Christianity and accordingly, also manage their affairs in tune with the Baptist principles and practices. However, it cannot come in the way of the petitioners professing a different religious denomination of Catholic faith as they have also similar Fundamental Right to profess and practise Catholic Christianity as guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution of India,” the High Court ruled.