Guwahati: A group of 1,065 members of Nagaland’s Sumi Naga community has approached the Gauhati High Court seeking intervention over a disputed re-edited version of the Holy Bible in the Sumi Naga language.
The petition, filed before the Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court, concerns the ‘Sumi Naga Re-edited 2025’ edition published by the Bible Society of India (BSI).
The petitioners have alleged that changes made in the re-edited version have altered the meaning of several Biblical passages and created confusion within the Sumi community. They have sought measures to ensure that churches, educational institutions, religious organisations and members of the community are clearly informed about the status of the disputed edition.
The case was taken up by Justice Anjan Moni Kalita, who issued notices to the respondents. The matter has been listed for further hearing on September 7.
The respondents include the Nagaland government, senior officials of the Home department and police, besides the Bible Society of India, its Dimapur Auxiliary and other officials associated with the publication and distribution of the edition.
According to the petition, the BSI has already agreed to stop further publication of the disputed version. However, the petitioners have argued that merely discontinuing its publication is not enough because copies have already reached members of the community and may continue to remain in circulation.
They have therefore urged the court to direct the authorities to take steps to publicly clarify the status of the 2025 re-edited edition.
The petitioners have also sought directions to the Bible Society of India to make a prominent announcement through its website and other communication channels confirming that further printing, reproduction, circulation and distribution of the disputed edition have been discontinued.
The legal action follows months of controversy surrounding the revised Sumi-language Bible. The Society for the Preservation of Sumi Language had earlier called for the withdrawal of the edition, alleging that it contained mistranslations, omissions and additions that affected the theological meaning of the text.
The organisation had also argued that some of the language used in the revised edition departed from established Sumi terminology found in earlier Bible translations, hymn books and other recognised Sumi literature.
The controversy has consequently moved beyond a debate over language and translation, with members of the community seeking a formal clarification on the circulation and status of the disputed edition.
The Gauhati High Court‘s proceedings will now determine how the respondents respond to the concerns raised by the petitioners and what further directions, if any, are required regarding the disputed publication.