Protestant Church's property feud continues

According to Masih CNI also approached the apex court but the case was dismissed in 2013.

Amritsar:  Another property dispute has erupted between two groups of the Protestant Church over a piece of land with one of them approaching the Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal for the protection of the site.

The dispute is between the Amritsar Diocesan Trust Association (of the Anglican Church of India-Church of Indian, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon (CIPBC) and the Diocese of Amritsar of the Church of North India (CNI). Both claim a property in Mahan Singh Gate area in Amritsar.

In a letter to Badal, Mahraj Masih, who claims to be the property in-charge, Amritsar Diocesan Trust Association, said the property belonged to the Church of England before 1947.

After independence all the properties belonging to the Church of England were vested with Anglican Church of India, Diocese of Amritsar, through its managing committee, Amritsar Diocesan Trust Association, he claimed.

Masih has alleged that Church of North India, has been claiming rights over the property since 1970. The CNI claims the property in question has merged with the CNI.

According to Masih CNI also approached the apex court but the case was dismissed in 2013. The high court has ordered a status quo in its 2013 ordr, he said.

However, Bishop PK Samantharoy of CNI diocese of Amritsar termed the claims of Masih as lies. The case had been decided in favour of CNI, he said.

He maintained that Masih had been barred from interfering in the functioning of the trust headed by him as chairman and Sadrick Sohan Lal as secretary.

"The property is not being used to benefit any individual, but is being put to use for the welfare of the entire Christian community," he said.

Source: Hindustan Times