LAZARUS LUNJALA Vs. ANDHRA EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The controversy in the present writ appeals pertains to the elections and management of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC), which is a society earlier registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and is now governed by the Andhra Pradesh Societies Registration Act, 2001.

(2.) The AELC Society is stated to consist of approximately 1200 churches and 300 congregations spread over various districts in the State of Andhra Pradesh. All the churches and congregations are organized into six synods, namely Central Guntur Synod, East Guntur Synod, West Guntur Synod, East Godavari Synod, West Godavari Synod, and Visakha Synod. The synods are further divided into several parishes which are further classified as A, B and C according to their strength and financial capacity.

(3.) The affairs of the society are managed by a central body comprising the President, Vice President, General Secretary and other members, in all numbering 12. For electing the members in the central body, elections are first held at the Synod level. The elected representatives from the Synod level then participate to elect the central body.