After bureaucrat dismisses villagers’ concerns, LRPF seeks action against illegal construction of church

Representational photograph

The Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF) wrote to Kalpana Kumari, the Revenue Divisional Officer (Sub-collector), Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh and asked that action be taken against the illegal construction of a church in Kurnool district.

Residents of Jillela village in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district had earlier approached Kalpana Kumari and petitioned her to stop the illegal construction of a church in the village. They told the IAS officer that despite the objections from the villagers, the pastor had gone ahead with the unlawful construction.

However, Kalpana Kumari had dismissed their concerns and had said that India is a India is a secular nation. She had said that people of all faiths and religions – be they Hindus, Christians or Muslims – have the right to construct their places of worship and use them. Earlier, The Commune had reported on how, in a similar case in the state of Andhra Pradesh, a retired Deputy Inspector-General of police, a pastor and other individuals had threatened and filed cases under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Atrocities (Prevention) Act against villagers who objected to a church being constructed in their village.

Unfortunately, according to the letter sent by the LRPF to the Revenue Divisional Officer, Christian groups in the state used this episode to denigrate the Hindu communities and downplay the communities’ anxiety regarding Christian missionary activities. The Christian groups came out with videos, memes and posts on social media ridiculing Hindus, claiming that “Hindu fanatics” were “snubbed” by the bureaucrat. One such post on social media is linked here.

“This has hurt the sentiments of all Hindus who have seen/read these posts. While the people from Christianity have gone ahead with unauthorised church construction in violation of multiple rules, it is the Hindus who are left to feel guilty”, the letter stated.

Our letter to Revenue Divisional Officer (Sub-Collector), Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh regarding unauthorized construction of Church.

A copy of the same has been forwarded to the Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training, Government of India. pic.twitter.com/jgUFFHcphE

— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) February 27, 2021

The letter further states that while the villagers may not have been fully conversant with the rules governing construction of religious structures, their objection to the construction of the church is genuine. Moreover, the letter indicates what kind of illegalities are involved in the construction of the structure.

The Andhra Pradesh Gram Panchayat Land Development (Layout and Building) Rules, 2002, Rule No 26 states that:

“No site shall be used for the construction of a building intended for public worship or religious purposes without the prior approval of the Collector of the District who may refuse such approval if, in his opinion, the use of the site for the proposed construction of the building is likely to endanger public peace and order, after giving an opportunity to the applicant to show cause against such refusal”

The letter states that in the present case, the construction is unauthorised and has no permissions from the concerned public authorities. Also, it appears that the said construction took place on agricultural land, which is another violation of rules.

The Section 3(1) of the Andhra Pradesh Agricultural Land (Conversion for non Agricultural Purposes) Act, 2006 clearly states that:

“–No agricultural land in the State shall be put to non-agricultural purposes, without the prior permission of the Competent authority”.

Section 3(2) – An application for such conversion of the agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes shall be made before the Competent authority in the form prescribed along with conversion tax..”

Pointing out the illicit nature of the construction, the LRPF sought an inquiry into the matter and demanded action against the perpetrators.

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