Plea seeking security to Haryana churches dismissed

The Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday observed that any priest of a church, in case of any threat could approach the police, but declined to issue orders to the Haryana government to provide security to churches across the state.

The Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday observed that any priest of a church, in case of any threat could approach the police, but declined to issue orders to the Haryana government to provide security to churches across the state.

The high court orders came on a petition of Jagdish Masih, president, National Christian League, who had approached the high court seeking directions to the Haryana government to provide security to all churches in the state. The petitioner had alleged that a church at Kamri village in Hisar was disrespected and the Cross, their religious symbol, was replaced with Hanuman’s idol by some miscreants in February.

The petitioner had argued that the incidents of violence being reported in the country against Christians were being perpetrated ‘purposely’. The division bench of justice SK Mittal refused to issue notice or any other direction to the state and ordered the petition ‘dismissed as withdrawn’.