High Court issues notice on mass plea seeking public clarification over withdrawn Sumi Bible edition amid continuing community concerns
DIMAPUR — The Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court has issued notice to the respondents on a writ petition filed by 1,065 members of the Sumi Naga community seeking directions over publication and circulation of the ‘Sumi Naga Re-edited 2025’ version of the Holy Bible.
The petition, WP(C)/123/2026, was heard on Monday by Justice Anjan Moni Kalita, who issued notice returnable on September 7.
The respondents include the State of Nagaland, represented by the chief secretary, senior Home department and police officials, the Bible Society of India through its general secretary, the Bible Society of India, Dimapur Auxiliary, and other functionaries connected with the publication and circulation of the disputed edition.
According to the petition, the ‘Sumi Naga Re-edited 2025’ edition published by the Bible Society of India (BSI) contains translation changes that the petitioners contend have distorted the meaning of the Scriptures, leading to confusion and divisions within the Sumi community. The petitioners submitted that although BSI had subsequently undertaken to discontinue publication of the disputed edition, copies had already been circulated.
The petitioners have requested the court to direct the authorities to “to take necessary administrative and regulatory measures to ensure that accurate information regarding the status of the ‘Sumi Naga Re-edited 2025’ version of the Holy Bible reaches churches, religious institutions, educational bodies and members of the Sumi Naga community at large.”
They have also sought a direction to BSI to prominently display on its official website and communication platforms that it has discontinued further publication, printing, reproduction, circulation and distribution of the ‘Sumi Naga Re-edited 2025’ edition.
The court dispensed with formal notice to the State respondents after the senior government advocate entered appearance and directed issuance of notice to the remaining respondents by speed post and the usual process. The matter has been listed for further hearing on September 7.
Background
The litigation was preceded by months of controversy surrounding the revised Sumi Bible. In April this year, the Society for the Preservation of Sumi Language (SPSL) publicly demanded the immediate recall of the ‘Sumi Naga Re-edited 2025’ edition, alleging that it contained numerous mistranslations, omissions and additions that altered the theological meaning of the Scriptures.
The organisation described the issue as one affecting the sanctity of God's Word rather than merely a linguistic disagreement.
The SPSL had claimed that the revised edition departed from established Sumi vocabulary used in earlier Bible translations, hymn books and other recognised Sumi literature, and urged the Bible Society of India to withdraw all copies already in circulation.
Subsequently, according to the writ petition, the Bible Society of India agreed to discontinue further publication of the disputed edition. However, the petitioners argue that a formal public clarification is still necessary because copies remain in circulation and confusion persists among members of the Sumi community.