MP Government Orders Takeover of Land Belonging to Church-Run College

Madhya Pradesh, Jan 28, 2026: Authorities in Madhya Pradesh have ordered the attachment of prime land belonging to Indore Christian College in Indore, a nearly 140-year-old Protestant Church–run institution, citing alleged deviation from the original purpose of the land grant.

The land, measuring 1.702 hectares (about 4.2 acres), is estimated to be worth around 4 billion rupees (US$43.65 million). According to the Indore district administration, the property was gifted in 1887 by the Holkar dynasty to a Canadian Mission to establish a hospital and a school, primarily for women.

 The college was established the same year and later developed into a well-known higher education institution.

An order issued by District Collector Shivam Verma on January 23, and reported by The Times of India on January 25, stated that the original mission for which the land was granted no longer exists. 

The order noted that no women’s hospital is currently operating on the site and that the college is being run by a different entity that charges fees, which the administration claimed amounted to a deviation from the original land grant conditions.

A Church official, who requested anonymity, said the college management had sought government permission to construct commercial shops on a portion of the land that had remained unused for decades to generate revenue for the institution."However, that application was instead used to target Church property,” he said.

The order reportedly directed officials to register the land in the name of the state government within three days. The process was delayed due to the weekend and the national holiday on January 26, India’s Republic Day. 

A district official said the original land grant allowed the government to reclaim the property in case of deviation from its intended use.

College authorities have raised concerns over the future of around 2,300 students enrolled in 17 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, many of whom are preparing for their annual examinations.

“If the government forcibly takes over the land on which the college stands, we do not know what will happen to the students,” the Church official said.

Madhya Pradesh is governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Hindu nationalist groups have frequently accused Christian institutions of forcible or fraudulent religious conversions, allegations that Church leaders deny. 

The state is among 12 in India with strict anti-conversion laws that criminalise conversions through coercion, inducement or fraud, with penalties including imprisonment and fines.

Christians make up about 0.27 percent of Madhya Pradesh’s population of over 72 million, while Hindus account for nearly 80 percent.“We have challenged the order in the Madhya Pradesh High Court,” Amit David, principal of the college, told UCA News on January 27. He said the land was gifted and not leased, but declined to provide further details, stating that the matter is under consideration by the Indore bench of the High Court.

Courtesy - UCA News