Illegal sale of land: HC stays order directing CBI to register case

Madurai: Madras high court on Monday granted an interim stay on the order passed by a single bench, which directed the CBI to register a case concerning the illegal sale of 31 acres of land. This land, allotted by the govt for establishing an industrial home for women in Tallakulam in Madurai district, was sold to third parties by the then administrators of the Church of South India Trust Association (CSITA) of CSI Madurai Ramnad diocese.A division bench of justice M S Ramesh and justice A D Maria Clete passed the interim order while hearing an appeal preferred by CSI Madurai Ramnad Diocese (appellant), challenging the order.The appellant stated that the single bench proceeded on the basis that the property belongs to the govt and was sold by the diocese without any right. However, the single bench ought to have seen that the property was assigned to the predecessor of the CSITA on payment of full market value as early as 1912, and as such, the assignee has a right to hold the land absolutely. Hence, the appellant sought a direction to set aside the order.The single bench had directed the CBI to register a case and conduct a proper inquiry while hearing the petition filed in 2021 by D Devasahayam. The petitioner stated that the govt in 1912 assigned the property measuring 31.10 acres, situated near Moondrumavadi in Tallakulam village, to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mission (ABCFM), for the purpose of providing industrial homes for needy women. Subsequently, the property was transferred to the CSITA of CSI Madurai Ramnad diocese. In violation of the assessment condition, the then administrators of CSITA sold the properties to third parties, and a huge amount was misappropriated illegally with the active connivance of many govt officials. Hence, he sought a CBI probe.