JOHN VICTOR Vs. REV NOEL JASON

JUDGEMENT

(1.) DECLARATION that the election of Rev. M. Azariah as Bishop of Madras (1990) is void and opposed to the Constitution of Church of South India as at the time of his election he held Office of General Secretary, Synod entrusted with electoral duties for the election of Bishop and further his election is vitiated for bias.

(2.) DECLARATION that election of Rev. Dr. Victor Premasagar as Bishop of Medak (1981) and subsequently Moderator is void for the same reasons.

(3.) WE have carefully considered the matter and the respective submissions of the learned counsel on either side. In our view, there is no rhyme or reason in the attempt of the learned senior counsel for the applicants to telescope into this case the grievances of the applicants against Rev. M. Azariah, the bishop who is the contemner in Contempt Application No. 80 of 1991. The said bishop is not a party to the present proceedings and merely because the two applications have been filed simultaneously or came up before Court together or related to events connected with C.S. No. 10 of 1991, they do not by themselves justify such an attempt. The contempt alleged in each of these applications have to be confined in their consideration to the respective parties shown as respondents in the respective applications only.