Parliament Question: Difficulty in Obtaining Land for Cemetery for Burial Purpose

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No-2910 ANSWERED ON – 05/08/2026 DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING LAND FOR CEMETERY FOR BURIAL PURPOSE

2910. ADV DEAN KURIAKOSE:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether it is a fact that it has become increasingly difficult for members of the Minority Communities to acquire cemetery land for burial purposes and if so, the details thereof; and

(b) whether the Government has taken any steps to direct the State Governments to play a proactive role in helping the minority communities to acquire burial land in the State and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) & (b): Burial grounds and cremation grounds are a State subject under the Constitution of India (Schedule VII, List II – State List). Accordingly, matters relating to identification, allotment and management of land for burial purposes falls within the jurisdiction of the respective State Governments. However, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), a statutory body under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, has received some petitions in which the petitioners have cited instances relating to allotment of land for Cemetery. The Commission took them up with the concerned State Governments/authorities for necessary action.

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