The Aizawl District Magistrate issued a prohibitory order under Sec.144 CrPC on 14th October, 2015 regarding Baptist Church Of Mizoram, Bawngkawn as follows:

WHEREAS it has come to the notice of the undersigned that construction of church building by the Baptist Church of Mizoram, Bawngkawn (hereinafter referred to as BCM, Bawngkawn) at Brigade area of Bawngkawn, Aizawl on a portion of land covered by South Chaltlang Village Council Pass No.22 of 1973 has been objected by the local community;

AND WHEREAS allotment of sites by Village Council for residential and other non-agricultural purposes in Aizawl after 1953 was not permitted under Section 2 of the Lushai Hills District (House Sites) Act, 1953 and hence the said Village Council Pass has no locus standi;

AND WHEREAS the Government of Mizoram, Land Revenue & Settlement Department has also directed the BCM, Bawngkawn to discontinue construction of the church building;

AND WHEREAS the Court of Senior Civil Judge, Aizawl has issued an ad interim order dated 06.10.2015 wherein the stay order issued by the Land Revenue & Settlement Department is stayed till final disposal of the application filed by the BCM, Bawngkawn, and also restraining the local community and the Government of Mizoram from interfering in and also from doing anything detriment to the interest of the BCM, Bawngkawn’s possession, occupation and utilizing of the portion of land mentioned above;

AND WHEREAS law and order problems have been arising out of these circumstances in the vicinity of the aforesaid portion of land inducing public outcry;

AND WHEREAS I am of the opinion that there is every likelihood of disturbing public order and tranquility at any moment in the vicinity of the aforesaid portion of land if the aforesaid portion of land and church building are freely accessible by some people and that there is sufficient ground for proceeding under appropriate Act;

Now, therefore, I, Dr. FRANKLIN LALTINKHUMA, IAS, District Magistrate, Aizawl District, Aizawl in exercise of the powers conferred on me under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 ( Act No.2 of 1974) do herby order that:

“No one shall have access to the church building constructed by BCM, Bawngkawn and its premises at Brigade area of Bawngkawn, Aizawl without prior approval of the undersigned”.

This order shall take immediate effect and shall remain in force for a period of two (2) months unless revoked earlier.