Supreme Court Orders Status Quo On Christian Mission's Possession Of Land In Bilaspur

The Supreme Court recently granted interim relief to the Christian Women's Board of Mission(CWBM) by ordering status quo on its possession of a leasehold property in Bilaspur. The Mission approached the Supreme Court apprehending dispossession by the State of Chhattisgarh, which is seeking repossession of the land.

A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta passed an interim order while issuing notice on the CWBM's plea against the Chhattisgarh High Court's order, which denied it relief.

"In the meantime, status quo, as it exists today, be maintained with respect to construction and possession. A copy of this order be communicated/ forwarded to the Collector Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, by the Registry today forthwith," the Supreme Court's order stated.

As per the petitioners, the land in question was originally granted on lease in 1925, which was regularly renewed up to 1994. Thereafter, although the formal renewal remained pending by the authorities due to attempts to transfer the land for Smart city developments etc, the petitioners continued in uninterrupted possession till 2022, paying statutory dues and carrying out various religious, educational and charitable activities. It had acquired bhumiswami rights. 

Since 1979, it has been functioning under the aegis of the United Church of North India Trust Association (UCNITA), a registered company under the erstwhile Companies Act, 1913, which has been managing and administering its properties, including the Mission Hospital at Bilaspur, situated on the land in question.

Petitioners state that they have made repeated attempts at renewal of the lease of the said property, but it was kept pending by the authorities. The issue arose after the Collector, Bilaspur, rejected the renewal application in 2024, subsequent to which the statutory appeal was filed before the Secretary, Department of Revenue, and the local administration.

It is the case of the petitioner that during the pendency of the proceedings, the authorities, acting mala fide, initiated coercive steps to demolish the hospital and the chapel building, razing nearly 80% of the premises. Aggrieved by this, the petitioners approached the Chhattisgarh High Court, which directed no further coercive steps and ordered that the pending appeal be decided within 15 days. Subsequently, the appeal was dismissed.

Another writ petition was filed challenging the rejection of the appeal, which was dismissed by a single judge of the High Court on July 18. This was challenged before a division bench, which upheld the single judge's order. It was observed that the petitioners did not have any right, title or interest in the property, and any claims for renewal couldn't be sustained.

Case Details: CHRISTIANS WOMAN'S BOARD OF MISSION & ANR. v. STATE OF CHHATTISGARH & ORS.|SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CIVIL) Diary No(s). 64657/2025

Click Here To Read Order

Appearances: For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Sanjay Hegde, Sr. Adv. Mr. Anas Tanwir, AOR Mr. Ankit Tiwari, Adv. Mr Ebad Ur Rahman, Adv. Mr. Masoom Raj Singh, Adv. Mr. Ashish Kumar, Adv. Mr. Z. Sheikh, Adv