The Supreme Court of India on Friday, 10 April 2026, stayed criminal proceedings against a Christian priest who was booked by the Uttar Pradesh Police for allegedly stating that Christianity is the only true religion, as reported in Bar and Bench.
A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government on the priest’s plea challenging the criminal case registered against him.
The Court directed that during the pendency of the challenge, the trial proceedings against the priest will remain stayed.
The case pertains to allegations that the priest made statements during a prayer meeting asserting that Christianity is the only true religion, which allegedly outraged the religious sentiments of Hindus.
Earlier, the Allahabad High Court had refused to quash the proceedings against the priest. Justice Saurabh Srivastava had held that it was inappropriate for any individual to claim that their religion is the only true religion, observing that such assertions amount to disparagement of other faiths.
“By bare perusal of the narrations made in the FIR wherein it has been mentioned that in his prayer meet, applicant frequently states that there is only one religion which is Christian and also hurts the sentiments of a particular religion i.e. Hindu, whereas India is a land where people of all faiths and beliefs in secular state as defined by Constitution of India, live together, therefore, it is wrong for any religion to claim that it is the only true religion as it implies a disparagement of other faiths,” the High Court had said.
The High Court had further noted that Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code prohibits deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class of citizens, and held that the actions alleged against the priest fall within the ambit of Section 295-A IPC.
The priest has challenged both the chargesheet filed against him and the trial court order taking cognizance of the offence.
With the Supreme Court now issuing notice and staying the proceedings, the matter will be taken up for further consideration after responses are filed by the Uttar Pradesh government.
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