HC appoints 2 judges as administrators to manage Diocesan Council, TDTA

The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has appointed two retired judges – Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice P Jyothimani – as administrators to manage the affairs of the Diocesan Council and Tirunelveli Diocesan Trust Association (TDTA) and act as an effective truce between the newly elected members of the executive committee, the Bishop and the financial administrator appointed by the CSI Synod.

Disposing as many as 34 pleas relating to the conflict, including transfers relating to educational institutions run by the diocese, Justice R Mahadevan held that the executive committee of the Diocesan Council, with the Bishop JJ Christdoss as its chairman, shall function under the guidance, supervision and control of the administrators until further orders. Directing the committee to hand over the records to the administrators within two weeks, the judge held that they shall scrutinise these records, hear the parties affected by such transfers, postings and appointments and pass ordersin six weeks.

The orders shall be binding on the Bishop, the Diocesan Council and its executive committee, and persons who are subjected to such transfers and postings, the judge held.

The existing arrangement on financial aspect shall continue, but would be countersigned by the administrators, Justice Mahadevan said. “If there is any conflict of opinion between the Bishop... and the elected executive committee, the administrators shall find out what is good for the institution and take appropriate decision.”

Their decision shall be final and binding on the executive committee and the Bishop, and all transfers, postings and appointments to all educational and other institutions shall be placed in a meeting of the executive committee, convened under the supervision of the administrators, Justice Mahadevan said.