Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram welcomes the Supreme Court’s decision dated February 16, 2026, in the matter of Digbal Tandi vs. State of Chhattisgarh and others, which dismissed the petition filed against the installation of boards restricting the entry of Christian missionaries in the Vanvasi villages of Chhattisgarh.
The Supreme Court upheld the Chhattisgarh High Court’s order, which stated that the move to put up hoardings to curb religious conversions through greed or fraud cannot be termed unconstitutional.
The High Court had noted that Christian priests convert the Vanvasi population through allurement and manipulation. In its decision on February 16, 2026, the Supreme Court clarified that under the ‘PESA’ Act, Gram Sabhas have full authority to protect their social and cultural traditions.
The Chhattisgarh High Court, having already validated this decision of the Gram Sabhas, also underscored that Gram Sabhas are not merely formal institutions, but units of actual self-governance.
The Deputy Chief Minister and Panchayati Raj Minister of Chhattisgarh, Vijay Sharma, clarified that this Supreme Court decision reaffirms the spirit of the Constitution and the preservation of Vanvasi culture. He stated, “The Chhattisgarh government is committed to protecting the rights of the Gram Sabhas. We are working on making the PESA rules more effective so that the Vanvasi society can keep its culture and traditions intact.”
Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram also welcomes and commends the Chhattisgarh Government for remaining steadfast in its role. Similarly, all 10 PESA states with Scheduled Areas are urged to keep the spirit of the PESA legislation in mind and to formulate similar strict provisions in their respective state PESA rules. They should issue guidelines incorporating this Hon’ble Supreme Court order so that the tribal society can keep its traditional culture and way of worship intact.
