Supreme Court - Daily Orders
V. Venu vs St. Marys Orthodox Church (Odakkali ... on 3 December, 2024
Author: Surya Kant
Bench: Surya Kant
ITEM NO.3 COURT NO.3 SECTION XI-A
S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s).26064-26069/2024
[Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 17-10-2024
in CAC No.14/2024 17-10-2024 in CAC No. 15/2024 17-10-2024 in CAC
No. 16/2024 17-10-2024 in CAC No. 17/2024 17-10-2024 in CAC
No.18/2024 17-10-2024 in CAC No.19/2024 passed by the High Court of
Kerala at Ernakulam]
V. VENU & ORS. Petitioner(s)
VERSUS
ST. MARYS ORTHODOX CHURCH (ODAKKALI PALLI) & ORS. Respondent(s)
(IA No. 251580/2024 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED
JUDGMENT)
WITH
SLP(C) No. 27978/2024 (XI-A)
(IA No.270512/2024-EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED
JUDGMENT)
SLP(C) No. 27977/2024 (XI-A)
(FOR ADMISSION)
SLP(C) No. 28011/2024 (XI-A)
(FOR ADMISSION)
Date : 03-12-2024 These matters were called on for hearing today.
CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURYA KANT
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE UJJAL BHUYAN
For Petitioner(s) Mr. A. Raghunath, AOR
Mr. Sreenath Vijayaraghsvan, Adv.
Mr. Ranjit Kumar, Sr. Adv.
Mr. C.K. Sasi, AOR
Ms. Meena K Poulose, Adv.
Ms. Sumedha Ray Sarkar, Adv.
For Respondent(s) Mr. Sanand Ramakrishnan, Adv.
Mr. Rajeev Mishra, Adv.
Signature Not Verified
M/s. Axess Legal Corp, AOR
Digitally signed by
ARJUN BISHT
Date: 2024.12.04
17:29:36 IST
Reason: Mr. P. K. Manohar, AOR
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Mr. K.K. Venugopal, Sr. Adv.
Mr. Chander Uday Singh, Sr. Adv.
Mr. Krishnan Venugopal, Sr. Adv.
Mr. S. Sreekumar, Sr. Adv.
Mr. E. M. S. Anam, AOR
Mr. Ankur Talwar, Adv.
Mr. Mathew P. Paul, Adv.
UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following
O R D E R
1. Having heard learned senior counsel/counsel for the parties for some time, we are satisfied that the private petitioners, who have preferred Special Leave Petitions bearing SLP(C) No.27978/2024, SLP(C) No.27977/2024 and SLP(C) No.28011/2024 against the judgment of the High Court dated 17.10.2024, are prima facie in contempt for having willfully disobeyed the decisions of this Court in K.S. Varghese and others vs. Saint Peter’s and Saint Paul’s Syrian Orthodox Church and others, (2017) 15 SCC 333 and St. Mary’s Orthodox Church and others vs. State Police Chief and others, (2020) 18 SCC 329, to the extent these pertain to entrustment of administration of the Churches as per 1934 Constitution.
2. Consequently, we direct these petitioners to handover the entire administration (only) to Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church’s Management and submit a compliance affidavit, failing which necessary consequences shall follow.
3. The respondents-Malankara Orthodox Syrian Churches and their office bearers shall also give undertaking in writing to the effect that all public facilities in the Churches compound, like burial grounds, schools, hospitals etc. shall continue to be availed by everyone, including Catholics without insisting on a pledge of 2 allegiance to 1934 Constitution for the said purpose of availing the public amenities and also subject to further directions that may be issued by this Court from time to time.
4. The exemption granted to the officers of the Government of Kerala on 25.11.2024 shall continue to operate.
5. It is clarified that the above interim directions are without prejudice the rights and contentions of the parties which shall be considered only if they submit compliance affidavits.
6. Post these matters on 17.12.2024.
7. Tag SLP(C) No.27970/2024, SLP(C) No.27971/2024 and SLP(C) No.28318/2024 along with these matters.
(ARJUN BISHT) (PREETHI T.C.)
ASTT. REGISTRAR-cum-PS ASSISTANT REGISTRAR
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