The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday made it clear that no government money can be spent to construct or repair churches and other Christian religious institutions in the state in pursuance of the GO Ms. No. 42, issued on December 19, 2001.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Anil R. Dave and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy was dealing with a writ petition filed by one Dr Tripuraneni Hanuman Chowdary complaining that the state government was promoting a religion contrary to injunctions of the Constitution. The bench was clarifying its earlier orders of status quo in this regard.
The petitioner listed the various orders issued between December 2001 and March 2009 and complained that the state under the guise of welfare of SCs and STs was "promoting religious activity relating to Christians".
The court had ordered on September 7 to maintain status quo on release of funds under the GO for maintenance, repair and construction of churches.
When the case came up for hearing, the counsel for the petitioner, Mr Challa Kodanda Ram, complained that the words status quo were being misinterpreted by the officers. The bench then said there shall be no spending of government money in pursuance to the various GOs issued by the government.
