Bible Society of India suspends future Sümi Bible publications amid High Court litigation, clarifies SBC alone controls distribution and use of 2025 edition
DIMAPUR — The Bible Society of India (BSI) has suspended all future publication of the Sümi Bible with immediate effect, citing the ongoing litigation over the disputed 2025 re-edited edition, even as it clarified that decisions on the use or withdrawal of the printed copies rest solely with the Sümi Baptist Convention (SBC).
As reported in Eastern Mirror, the Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court on August 3 issued notices to the Bible Society of India, the Sümi Baptist Convention and others on a writ petition challenging the publication of the revised Sümi Bible. The petition, filed by 1,065 members of the Sümi community, alleges that the revised edition introduced unauthorised linguistic changes and seeks judicial intervention over its publication.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the BSI said it was "deeply pained" by what it described as damage to its reputation caused by the controversy and stressed that the suspension of future Sümi Bible publications was solely in compliance with the pending court proceedings.
"Recent litigation involving matters related to the Sümi Bible has resulted in the suspension of all future Sümi Bible publications by BSI with immediate effect in compliance with the lawsuit," the organisation stated.
Related: Nagaland: Gauhati High Court issues notice on plea over disputed Sumi Bible edition
However, it expressed hope that its ministry among the Sümi churches would resume once a mutually acceptable resolution was reached "in a spirit of Christian love, unity and forgiveness."
The BSI also rejected any suggestion that its silence during the dispute amounted to an admission of wrongdoing, asserting that it neither translated nor independently coined any of the disputed terminology in the 2025 re-edited version.
According to the organisation, the revision process began after the SBC formally requested the re-editing of the Sümi Bible in 2013. It maintained that the project was completed in 2025 after following established editorial and publication procedures, with the final manuscript being proofread, corrected and approved by editors representing the translators and the SBC before printing.
The BSI further clarified that all printed copies of the 2025 edition had already been delivered to the SBC and remain under its sole custody and ownership.
"Any decision regarding the use, withdrawal, recall, distribution or non-use of the 2025 edition of the Sümi Bible rests entirely with the churches and their respective apex bodies. Such decisions do not fall within the authority or responsibility of the Bible Society of India," it added.
The organisation made the point that it was issuing the clarification reluctantly, maintaining that it has always sought to promote peace, reconciliation and harmony within the Christian community.
It added that the statement became necessary following the litigation initiated by advocate Surjya Das of the Calcutta High Court, reportedly engaged by Kahuto Chishi on behalf of the Society for Sümi Language Preservation.
The BSI reiterated its commitment to making the Scriptures available in people's mother tongues and expressed hope that the clarification would prevent further misunderstanding and unwarranted litigation against the organisation.
The legal dispute stems from objections raised by the Society for Sümi Language Preservation, which has challenged the publication of the revised Bible, contending that changes made to key words and expressions departed from accepted Sümi linguistic usage. The High Court has sought responses from the respondents and fixed the matter for further hearing on September 7.