Kohima, Sep 25 The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) on Friday urged the Centre and the state government to “exercise greater sensitivity” while scheduling important events, electoral exercises, official meetings and public activities on Sundays and major Christian observances.
NBCC, in a statement issued here, said administrative efficiency and economic necessity should not be pursued in a manner that undermines religious freedom, dignity and the conscience of citizens, stressing that government decisions should take into account constitutional freedoms alongside administrative requirements.
Pointing out the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Nagaland, NBCC said the draft electoral roll in Phek district was initially scheduled for publication on September 20, which fell on a Sunday, although the date was subsequently changed to September 21.
It also expressed concern over the reported schedule for publication of the final electoral roll in Nagaland on November 22, which also falls on a Sunday.
The council acknowledged that electoral processes are essential to democracy and their credibility must be protected, but said the administration should also be sensitive to the religious convictions of the communities it serves.
“There is no inherent conflict between conducting an important constitutional exercise and respecting the worship practices of citizens,” it said, adding that a mature democracy should be capable of accommodating both.
The NBCC also referred to arrangements reportedly made to ensure continuity of banking services ahead of the proposed three-day bank strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions from September 28 to 30.
It said public sector banks and regional rural banks have reportedly been directed to function on Sunday, September 27, ahead of the strike and the preceding weekend holidays.
While acknowledging the importance of uninterrupted banking services and economic continuity, the council questioned why similar administrative sensitivity could not be exercised while scheduling government programmes and public exercises affecting Christian worship.
The council said its concern was not against economic necessity but against what it described as “inconsistency in treating Sunday as flexible” when economic or administrative interests require it, while expecting Christian worship to yield without similar consideration.
It said Christians are not opposed to governance, public service, economic development or the legitimate responsibilities of the state, noting that they contribute to the country’s social, educational, economic, administrative and democratic life.
Respecting Sunday worship, it said, should therefore not be viewed as granting a favour to Christians but as recognising the dignity and constitutional freedom of citizens.
The church, it added, does not seek privilege from or oppose the state, but seeks fairness and asks that public duty be administered with wisdom, sensitivity and respect for conscience.
The NBCC urged the governments to review the practice of designating Sundays as working days wherever such arrangements can reasonably be avoided and ensure that administrative efficiency does not undermine religious freedom when alternative dates or arrangements are practically possible.
It also called for consultation with religious and community representatives when public decisions have significant implications for religious observances and urged authorities to uphold equality and freedom of conscience in both principle and administrative practice.
The council said the government should ensure that administrative convenience does not become a means of religious marginalisation and called for governance guided by justice, inclusion and mutual respect, so that Christian citizens can worship on Sundays without unnecessary conflict between their faith and official duties.
During a recent press conference here, Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer Bhagyashree Banayat had clarified that the schedule was issued by the Election Commission and that the State Election Office was only following it.
(PTI News)
