Kozhikode, July 4, 2019: Some lay people have approached the Kerala High Court against “illegal quarrying” on the land of two parishes under Thamarassery diocese.
The Catholic Laymen’s Association also wants the court to act against the state government for its failure to check the diocese’s bishop and vicars of Little Flower Church, Pushpagiri, and St George Church, Chundathumpoyil, both near Koodaranji in Kozhikode district.
Among the 10 respondents are the state government and revenue officials, the Diocese of Thamarassery, Little Flower Church, Bishop Mar Remegiose Paul Inchananiyil of Thamarassery and vicar of the church Mathew Thakidiyel.
Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy has issued orders to all the respondents to file their responses.
The association’s petition says despite complaining to various revenue officials, no action was taken against the Church authorities.
The report of the Koodaranji village officer states that two quarries had operated on the land of Little Flower Church, Pushpagiri, during 1990-2015 with no licenses to stock and use explosives.
The officer suggested an in-depth study by expert agencies to assess the loss to the state exchequer due to illegal mining.
Although the report was filed to the Thamarassery taluk officer much earlier, the tahsildar allegedly delayed forwarding it to the district collector.
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.
Source: deccanchronicle.com