The Madras High Court has directed the Central and Tamil Nadu governments to respond on the issue of creating a separate statutory body to regulate and administer properties belonging to Christian churches, on the lines of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department and the Waqf Board.
The direction was issued during the hearing of an appeal filed by those declared elected in the CSI Thoothukudi–Nazareth Diocese election. The matter came up before a division bench comprising Justices N. Sathish Kumar and R. Sakthivel.
After hearing submissions from all sides, the bench ordered an interim stay on the earlier order passed by a single judge in connection with the diocesan election dispute. The court further directed that the case be reheard after granting opportunity to both parties.
During the proceedings, the bench noted that numerous litigations concerning Christian churches are pending before courts. It also observed that substantial properties, educational institutions, and hospitals are being run in the name of churches, leading to intense contestation over administrative control and electoral positions within church bodies.
The court remarked that safeguarding church properties across the country is essential. It pointed out that in Tamil Nadu, Hindu temples are administered through the HR&CE Department, which regulates properties, finances, and related expenditures, while Islamic religious properties are administered through the Waqf Board.
In this context, the bench observed that a similar regulatory mechanism may be required to streamline the administration and financial management of Christian churches.
The court impleaded the Union Home Ministry Secretary and the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary as respondents in the case and directed them to file responses on the feasibility of establishing a statutory framework or authority to legally administer church properties, educational institutions, and hospitals.
The matter was adjourned for further hearing.
Source: Hindu Tamil
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