In the supreme court oc indi civil appellate jurisdiction civil appeal no. of 2001
(Arising out of S.L.P. (C) No. 7593/2001)
Moran Mar Thoma Mathews……….Appellant
Versus
Most Rev. Thomas Mar D. Metropolitian & Ors. ….Respondents
ORDER
Leave Granted.
This appeal arises from the judgement of the Kerala High Court which had disposed of an application under Order LXV Rule 15 of C.P.C. filled by the respondents for the transmission of the decree of this Court in Most Rev. P.M.A. Metropolitan & Ors. Vs. Moroan Mar Marthoma & Anr. (1995 Suppl. (4) SCC 286) for execution, In the impugned judgement, the Court did not go into the dispute as to whether the said dcree had been complied with by the calling of election, as had been calimed by the appe;;ant herein. The Cour, however, came to the conclusion that the appellant herein had not been elected as the Malankara Metropolitan. This finding of the High Court is contested by the appellant in this appeal.
Both the parties belong to Marthoma Syrian Orthodox Church. Apparently there are two factions in this and there has been an effort made by this Court to see that there is unity and reconciliation amongst them.
This is quite evident from the following passage in the aforesaid judgement of Hon’ble Jeevan Reddy J. (Rted. Judge of this Court).
“159. We hope that the unity and integrity of the Malankara Church will be maintained and continued by the above arrangement whtih is wholly consistent with and indeed in furtherance of the objectives underlying the Mulanthuruthy Synod resolutions. Elections to the Malankara Association shall hev to be held periodically so as to keep its representative character alive and effective.’’
We have heard the counsel for the parties at length and are glad to know that there is a sincere effort by both sides to see that the disputes are amicably settled. A compromise formula has been agreed to between the parties which would envisage and election of the Malankara Association, which was the direction issued by this Court in the aforesaid decision, read with the subsequent orders of this Court reported as 1996 (8) SCC 470 and 1997 (10) SCC 614. It would be, in our opinion, appropriate to direct the execution of the decree passed by this Court rahter thatn to decide whether the decree stands complied with or is to be executed by the trial court. This is a suggection which has vbeen accepted by the parties.
With the consent of the parties, we give the following directions:-
(i) The impugned judgement of the Kerala High Court dated 6th April, 2001, passed in C.M.P. No. 2079/1997 in A.S. No. 331/1980 is set aside;
(ii) Notwithstanding the withdrawal of the interim applications which were filled in this Court previously, fresh elections to the Malankara Association will be held and no court other than this Court will entertain any suit, application or interfere with the elections or the election process or results at any stage.
(iii) Fresh elelctions shall be called by Moran Mar Baselius Marthoma Mathews-II by issuing necessary Kalpanas to Parishes and the Malankara Association will be convened under Article 74 of the 1934 Constitution, as amended.
Both the parties desire that an observe should be appointed to ensure free and fair elections. Mr. Justice V.S. Malimath (Retired Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court) may be requested to accept Office of Observer and to oversee that the elections so called are held in a free and fair manner. In this connection, he will be at liberty to give such advise as he may think necessary for ensuring the execution of this Court’s decree.
(iv) If the Malankara Association when convened, deceides by majority that Moran Mar Baselius Marthoma Mathews-II is not the Malankara Metropolitan third respondent will voluntarily resing is office as Malankara Metropolitan. If the Malankara Association when convened decides by majority that he is the Malankara Metropolitan, all parites will accept the decision as final and binding, i.e. this decision will not be subject to challenge in any Court or other forum.
(v) Time-schedule for elections and thereafter for convening the Malankara Association will be worked out in accordance with past practice and procedure by the third respondent in consultation with the Observer.
(vi) Each of the parties will deposit initially a sum of Rs. 50,000/- with the Registrar of this Court towards the cost, expenses and the remuneration of the Observer. Copy of this order be sent by the Registrar (Judl.) to Mr. Justice V. S. Malimath with the request that he may kindly convery his acceptance at an early date.
The exercise od conducting electins and thereby executing this Court’s decree should be completed on or before 31st March 2002. The Observer is requested to submit a report to this Court on the counduct of the election and the execution of the decree within a fortnight thereafter. The appeal be listed for further directions and for recording the satisfaction of the decree on 15th April, 2002.
(Sd/-) (B.N. kirpal)
(Sd/-) k. g. balakrishnan
New Delhi,
November 28, 2001