Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council Hails Supreme Court Verdict in Divine Retreat Centre Case

KOCHI, KERALA, MAR. 13, 2008, 18.10 Hrs (CBCI News):

The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council on Tuesday welcomed the verdict of the Supreme Court in the Case of Muringoor Divine Retreat Centre at Potta, Chalakudy, Kerala.

In a joint statement issued here, Council President Archbishop Daniel Acharuparambil, Vice-President Joshua Mar Ignathios and Secretary General Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath, said that the verdict was recognition to the humanitarian works of the Divine Retreat Centre.

The Council asserted that the negative propaganda cannot conceal truth forever.

The Supreme Court had on Tuesday set aside the Kerala High Court order relating to the probe by a special team of the state police into various allegations against the Divine Retreat Centre.

The Court has also ordered the special investigating team led by IG Vinson M Paul to stop all proceedings.

The Court asked special probe team to handover the details of the investigation to Chalakkudy CI in two weeks.

Considering the case, the Division Bench comprising Justice S H Kapadia and Justice Sudarshan Reddy pointed out that as per CrPC Section 482, the High Court has no right to entrust a special team on the basis of an anonymous letter.

The directive came on an appeal filed by Fr. John Pannakkal, the director of the Divine Retreat Centre, against the High Court order initiating suo motu proceedings in the case.

The Supreme Court further pointed out that the High Court judge, who got the letter, should have handed over the anonymous letter to the Chief Justice for taking further decision on it.


Fr. Stephen Alathara
KCBC Spokesperson