SUPREME COURT RESTRAINS HIGH COURT-APPOINTED ADMINISTRATORS FROM TAKING DECISIONS FOR ELECTIONS OR ADMINISTRATION OF CHURCH OF SOUTH INDIA: CSI DISPUTE

The Supreme Court in the case Dr. Vimal Sukumar vs. D Lawrence and other Connected Matters observed and has restrained the interim committee of Retired High Court Judges appointed to oversee the elections to the synod of the Church of South India, CSI for taking any steps towards holding elections to the synod or dealing with the administration of the CSI as an interim measure.

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The direction has been made in a challenge to the Madras High Court's appointment of the interim committee in a suit filed wherein seeking fresh elections to the CSI and declaring the amendments to the CSI constitution invalid.

The vacation bench comprising of Justice Bela Trivedi and Justice Pankaj Mithal in the case observed and has issued notice on the Special Leave Petitions challenging the High Court order.

The High Court in its order directed that without expressing any prima facie opinion on the merits of the case, it is hereby directed that the administrators appointed by the High Court by the impugned order dated April 12, 2024 shall not take any decision with regard to the holding of elections or with regard to the administration of the CSI and trust till the next date of hearing.

The bench headed by Justice Trivedi had verbally clarified that presently the Court is only limiting the committee to take any administrative steps.

The court stated that, we are not setting aside the appointment of the administrator, we are saying they will not take any decision.