Kozhikode: Laity moves High Court against ‘illegal quarrying’ by church

Kozhikode: While Cardinal George Alencherry is in the eye of controversy over the sale of church properties, the Thamarassery diocese landed in a legal dispute over illegal quarrying on the land of Little Flower Church, Pushpagiri parish and St George Church, Chundathumpoyil, both near Koodaranji, here.

Catholic Laymen's Association has approached High Court demanding action against the state government for lethargy in taking action against the bishop and vicars who had allegedly operated the mines illegally.

Among the 10 respondents are the state government and revenue officials, the Diocese of Thamarassery, Little Flower Church, Bishop Mar Remegiose Paul Inchananiyil and vicar of the church Mathew Thakidiyel.

Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy issued orders to all the respondents to file their counter at the High Court.

The believers' body in its petition says despite complaining to various revenue officials, there was no action against the church authorities.

The report of the Koodaranji village officer clearly states that two quarries on the land of Little Flower Church, Pushpagiri, operated between 1990 to 2015 had no licenses to stock and use explosives.

It suggests expert agencies to conduct an in-depth study to assess the loss to the state exchequer due to illegal mining.

Though the report was filed to the Thamarassery taluk officer much earlier, the tahsildar deliberately delayed it reaching the district collector.

The Thamarassery diocese is facing another case at the Munsif Court, Kozhikode for the destruction of a cemetery and tombs of the Little Flower Church and smuggling out of dead bodies.

The relatives of the dead filed the lawsuit with a prayer for the restoration of the cemetery.