MADURAI: Church of South India (CSI) Bishop Christopher Asir has been summoned by Revenue Divisional Officer, Madurai, R Durairajan to appear before him for an inquiry as he had allegedly sold part of a land belonging to a trust.
In accordance with the petition dated September 22, 2011 filed by J M Bhaskar of Surveyor Colony, the American Board of Commissioners assigned 46.71 acres of land pertaining to ‘Lucy Perry Noble Institute For Women’ to the Church of South India Trust Association (CSITA) for utilising the income for charitable purpose. It was also mentioned that the Bishop of Madurai and Ramnad Diocese or CSITA will not be vested with powers to sell the “conditionally assigned land” for any other purpose.
However, the Bishop of Madurai-Ramnad Diocese A Christopher Asir and 10 others in contravention of the conditions sold 6.74 acres of the total land in RS.No. 88 at Tallakulam Village on February 5, 2008 for Rs 16.79 crore. It was alleged that Asir and 10 others misappropriated Rs 7 crore out of the total amount.
According to the petitioner, it is clear from the available documents that the sale of the property was unlawful, illegal and a criminal breach of trust.
Though repeated petitions had been filed in this regard to the revenue and the police authorities by the members belonging to the CSI, no action had been taken. Hence, the petitioner had submitted a petition before the RDO seeking action against the offenders and retrieve the land by cancelling the sale deed and hand it over to the beneficiaries.
According to a summons dated September 23, 2011, the RDO has asked the Bishop to appear at his office on October 3 at 11 am along with the documents pertaining to the case.