Govts have no say in appointment of Catholic bishops, says council; HC dismisses plea
The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed in 2021 by M Anbarasan of Virudhunagar district. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Madurai | Silver Rate in Madurai | Bank Holidays in Madurai | Public Holidays in Madurai | Madurai AQI | Weather in Madurai | Petrol Price in Madurai | Diesel Price in Madurai | CNG Price in Madurai | LPG Price in Madurai Stay updated with the latest Madurai news. Madurai : Madras high court dismissed a plea seeking a direction to the Centre and state to prevent alleged discrimination in the Roman Catholic hierarchy in the country by providing equitable representation for dalits in appointments of bishops. The petitioner sought a direction to the Centre and state to prevent untouchability and discrimination in the appointment of bishops in the Roman Catholic hierarchy. The counsel for the president of Tamil Nadu Bishops Council submitted that such a prayer cannot be granted in view of the fact that the central and state governments have no role to play in the appointment of bishops. It is the Apostolic Nuncio In India who has to recommend the name to the Pope. Pope is the appointing authority of bishops all over the world. The first bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice C V Karthikeyan observed that on a very specific query as to how the Centre and state can be directed to look into the matter of preventing untouchability and discrimination in the appointment of bishops in the Roman Catholic hierarchy, the petitioner’s counsel fairly stated that there is no provision under the Rules or the Act. Under such circumstances, no relief can be granted to the petitioner, the judges observed and dismissed the petition. Download the TOI App.