# Naga tribe moves Gauhati High Court over Sumi-language Bible ban 2026-08-08T12:40:58+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet A Naga tribe has petitioned the Gauhati High Court against a government move to ban a Sumi-language Bible. The court issued notices to the Union government, the Nagaland government, and the Bible Society of India (BSI), seeking their responses. The petition challenges a 2013 state circular that requires prior approval for all new Bible translations or revisions. The tribal body argues the circular violates religious freedom and targets the Sumi community, which uses the disputed translation. The BSI has reportedly said it followed no law when translating the text. The court will next hear the case after the respondents file their replies. ## Coverage - ndtv.com Tags: Bible Society of India, Bible translation, Gauhati High Court, Nagaland, Religious freedom, Sumi tribe Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/naga-tribe-moves-gauhati-high-court-over-sumi-language-bible-ban/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/naga-tribe-moves-gauhati-high-court-over-sumi-language-bible-ban/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.