(1.) The appeals relating to Kolencherry Church have been filed against judgment and decree passed by the High Court of Kerala on 4.10.2013 in Regular First Appeal and against order passed in Review application arising out of Suit No.43 of 2006 and Suit No.47 of 2006 by the District Judge on 11.4.2014. The Patriarch faction filed suit No.43 of 2006 to declare that the defendant No.1 (D-1) Church, its assets, including the educational institutions are liable to be administered only in accordance with Udampady executed on 30.12.2013. Prayer was also made to settle a scheme for administration of the church and its assets, to appoint a Receiver, conduct elections after preparing proper voters list irrespective of their factional affiliations and to entrust management to them. Permanent injunction be issued against 3rd defendant restraining him from receiving the key of the church.
(2.) With respect to Varikoli Church the appeals have been preferred as against judgment and decree dated 21.8.2015 passed in Regular First Appeal by the High Court of Kerala arising out of O.S. No.10 of 2003. O.S. No.10 of 2003 had been filed by the Catholics group in which prayer had been made to declare that the church is governed by the 1934 Constitution as upheld by the Supreme Court and defendant Nos.2 and 3 have no right to claim the status of trustees of the church. Permanent prohibitory injunction to restraint defendant Nos.2 and 3 from functioning as trustees of the church had been prayed in addition to mandatory injunction directing defendant No. 4 to call for immediate pothuyogam of D-1 church and to hold election of new Managing Committee including Trustees and Secretary in accordance with the 1934 Constitution. Counter claim was also raised by impleaded defendant Nos.13 to 15 to cause a referendum to ascertain the allegiance of the Parishioners of the church; to declare that the church and its assets are to be governed in accordance with the faith and will professed by majority of the Parishioners of the church; to pass a final decree declaring that church and its assets be administered in accordance with the decision of majority of the Parishioners; and permanent injunction restraining the third defendant, agents and religious dignitaries and those who are not accepting spiritual supremacy of Patriarch of Antioch and all the East.
(3.) With respect to Mannathur Church the appeals have been preferred against judgment and decree dated 20.5.2015 passed by the High Court of Kerala in R.F.A. No.320 of 2014 arising out of O.S. No.41 of 2003 filed by the Catholicos faction to declare that the church is administered by 1934 Constitution. Further declaration that defendant Nos.3 to 5 had no right or authority to act as its trustees, permanent prohibitory injunction against them for functioning as trustees, direction be issued to defendant No.2 to call general body for holding elections. Injunction had also been prayed against changing name of the church.