Kerala High Court
The Indian Pentecostal Church Of God ... vs K.C Thomas on 24 February, 2026
Author: T.R.Ravi
Bench: T.R.Ravi
OP(C) NO. 2418 OF 2025
1
2026:KER:16552
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE T.R.RAVI
TUESDAY, THE 24TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2026 / 5TH PHALGUNA, 1947
OP(C) NO. 2418 OF 2025
IN IA 8/2025 IN OP(SOCIETY) NO.32 OF 2025 OF DISTRICT COURT,
PATHANAMTHITTA
PETITIONERS/PETITIONERS:
1 THE INDIAN PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OF GOD (IPC)
A SOCIETY HAVING REGISTRATION NO. 9/1935-36,
ELURU, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH,
AND HAVING CENTRAL WORKING OFFICE AT HEBRONPURAM,
KUMBANAD, PATHANAMTHITTA, KERALA PIN 689 547
REPRESENTED BY ITS GENERAL SECRETARY,
PRESENTLY PR. DR. BABY VARGHESE,
REPRESENTED BY POWER OF ATTORNEY
PR. GEORGE P.E., S/O EASOW SAKHARIA,
AGED 59 YEARS,
RESIDING AT PUNNACKAL THEKKETHIL HOUSE,
AROONOOTIMANGALAM, VETTIYAR,
ALAPPUZHA, PIN - 690 110
2 THE INDIAN PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OF GOD,
IPC GENERAL COUNCIL,
HAVING CENTRAL WORKING OFFICE AT HEBRONPURAM,
KUMBANAD, PATHANAMTHITTA, KERALA PIN 689 547
REPRESENTED BY ITS GENERAL SECRETARY,
PRESENTLY PR. DR. BABY VARGHESE
REPRESENTED BY POWER OF ATTORNEY
PR. GEORGE P.E., S/O EASOW SAKHARIA,
AGED 59 YEARS,
RESIDING AT PUNNACKAL THEKKETHIL HOUSE,
AROONOOTIMANGALAM, VETTIYAR,
ALAPPUZHA, PIN - 690 110
OP(C) NO. 2418 OF 2025
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2026:KER:16552
BY ADVS.
SRI.JACOB P.ALEX
SRI.JOSEPH P.ALEX
SHRI.MANU SANKAR P.
SHRI.AMAL AMIR ALI
RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS:
1 K.C THOMAS
S/O. K.G CHACKO, EDAYATHRA FAITH HOUSE,
N.V NAGAR, PEROORKADA,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695 005
2 DANIEL KONNANILKUNNNATHIL JACOB
S/O. KONNANILKUNNATHIL,
EBENEZER GARDENS, KODAPPANAKUNNU,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695 043
3 P.M PHILIP
S/O. M.P MATHEW, PUTHUPARAMBIL,
BLESS VILLA, PATHIRAKKAL,
PATHANAPURAM, KOLLAM., PIN - 689 695
4 INDIAN PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OF GOD (IPC),
KERALA STATE PRESBYTERY
KERALA STATE PRESBYTERY, HEBRON,
KUMBANAD P.O, KOIPURAM MURI, KOIPURAM VILLAGE,
THIRUVALLA TALUK, PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT,
REPRESENTED BY ITS STATE PRESIDENT., PIN - 689 547
5 C.C ABRAHAM
S/O. CHACKO, RESIDING AT CHERUTHOMBIL KOMATTU,
PULLAD, THIRUVALLA, PATHANAMTHITTA, PIN - 689 548
6 PASTOR RAJU ANICADU
S/O. PAPPACHI MUKKOORIL, MUKKOORIL VEEDU,
KUNNANTHANAM, PALAKKATHAKIDI P.O,
PATHANAMTHITTA., PIN - 689 581
7 BIJU VARGHESE P.V
S/O. VARGHESE, THYPARAMBIL HOUSE,
RAMAKALMEDU P.O, IDUKKI., PIN - 685 552
OP(C) NO. 2418 OF 2025
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2026:KER:16552
8 JAMES GEORGE
S/O. GEORGE, RESIDING AT MORIA HILL,
VENGOOR P.O, AYOOR, KOLLAM., PIN - 691 533
9 PASTOR SUNNY KURIEN @ PHILIPOSE KURIEN
S/O. KURIEN, RESIDING AT ANJILIMOOTTIL EBENEZER,
KUNNACKAL P.O, VALAKAM, MOOVATTUPUZHA,
ERNAKULAM., PIN - 682 316
10 PASTOR K.P KURIEN
S/O. KURIEN, RESIDING UTHUMKUZHY VADAKKETHIL,
NEAR RAILWAY STATION, THIRUVALLA P.O,
PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT., PIN - 689 101
BY ADVS.
SHRI.BHARATH MURALI
SHRI.GEORGE VARGHESE(PERUMPALLIKUTTIYIL)
SHRI.MANU NAIR G.
SRI.MANU SRINATH
SHRI.LIJO JOHN THAMPY
SMT.NIVEDITA MUCHILOTE
SHRI.RIYAS M.B.
SHRI.JINSU M. JAIS
SRI.B.ASHOK SHENOY
SRI.P.S.GIREESH
SHRI.UMASANKER U.U.
SHRI.ADITYA A. SHENOY
SMT.RUKSANA SATHAR P.A.
THIS OP (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 24.02.2026,
THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
OP(C) NO. 2418 OF 2025
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2026:KER:16552
T.R.RAVI, J.
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OP(C) No.2418 of 2025
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Dated this the 24th day of February, 2026
JUDGMENT
The prayer in this original is for a direction to the District Court, Pathanamthitta to determine Ext.P2 - IA.No.8 of 2025 in OP(Society) No.32 of 2025 and other interlocutory applications and to stay further proceedings till the application is decided. The application seeks to decide on the maintainability of OP(Society) No.32 of 2025. This Court had admitted the original petition and issued interim orders staying further proceedings.
2. When the case is taken up today, the counsel appearing for the respondents submitted that they have no objection in the question regarding maintainability being considered.
3. In view of the above submission, there is no necessity to retain this original petition any longer. The original OP(C) NO. 2418 OF 2025 5 2026:KER:16552 petition is allowed. There will be a direction to the District Court, Pathanamthitta to consider and pass orders on IA. No.8 of 2025 in OP(Society) No.32 of 2025 and continue with the original petition after a decision is taken regarding the maintainability. This Court is not deciding on the merits and hence all interlocutory applications filed before this Court stand dismissed without prejudice to the contentions of the parties.
Sd/-
T.R.RAVI JUDGE sn OP(C) NO. 2418 OF 2025 6 2026:KER:16552 APPENDIX OF OP(C) NO. 2418 OF 2025 PETITIONERS' EXHIBITS Exhibit P1 TRUE COPY OF THE MEMORANDUM OF DATED 20.09.2025 IN OP (SOCIETY) NO. 32 OF 2025 ON THE FILES OF DISTRICT COURT, PATHANAMTHITTA Exhibit P2 TRUE COPY OF THE IA NO. 8 OF 2025 DATED 25.09.2025 IN OP (SOCIETY) NO. 32 OF 2025 ON THE FILES OF DISTRICT COURT, PATHANAMTHITTA Exhibit P3 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 27-08-2025 IN IA NO. 1 OF 2025 IN FAO NO. 100 OF 2025 Exhibit P4 TRUE COPY OF THE IA NO. 6 OF 2025 DATED 22.09.2025 IN OP (SOCIETY) NO. 32 OF 2025 ON THE FILES OF DISTRICT COURT, PATHANAMTHITTA Exhibit P5 TRUE COPY OF THE STATEMENT OF OBJECTION FILED BY PETITIONERS DATED 25.09.2025 I.A. NO. 6 OF 2025 IN OP (SOCIETY) NO. 32 OF 2025 ON THE FILES OF DISTRICT COURT, PATHANAMTHITTA RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS Exhibit R2(a) TRUE COPY OF OBJECTION FILED BY THE 2ND PETITIONER/RESPONDENT BEFORE THE DISTRICT COURT, PATHANAMTHITTA IN IA NO.8 OF 2025 IN OP (SOCIETY) NO.32 OF 2025 Exhibit R2(b) TRUE COPY OF THE COMMISSION REPORT FILED BY THE ADVOCATE COMMISSIONER IN O.P (SOCIETY) NO. 32 OF 2025 Exhibit R2(c) TRUE COPY SUSPENSION ORDER DATED 15.11.2025 ISSUED TO 2ND APPLICANT/2ND RESPONDENT