WP/2770/2026 of Budhala Prabhu Jaya Chander, Vs The State of Andhra Pradesh, on 4 May 2026

APHC010047482026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

AT AMARAVATI

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

TUESDAY,THE FIFTH DAY OF MAY

TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX

PRESENT

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE SUBHENDU SAMANTA

WRIT PETITION NO: 2770/2026

Between:

1. BUDHALA PRABHU JAYA CHANDER,, S/O. KANTHAIAH, AGED

ABOUT 64 YEARS, OCC. RETIRED EMPLOYEE, R/O. 36-9-30 B, NEHRU NAGAR, LABBIPET, VIJAYAWADA-520010.

2. CHINNAM MOHAN VIJAY BHASKAR RAO,, S/O. FRANCIS, AGED

ABOUT 71 YEARS, OCC. RETIRED DIOCESAN ACCOUNTANT, R/O,.

32-13-53/103,

OPP.

AMMA

KALYANA

MANDAPAM,

RAMANAIAH STREET, VIJAYAWADA-10.

...PETITIONER(S)

AND

1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REPRESENTED BY THE

PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, HOME DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH

2. THE

SUPERINTENDENT

OF

POLICE,

KRISHNA

DISTRICT,

MACHILIPATNAM, ANDHRA PRADESH-521001.

3. THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, HANUMAN JUNCTION CIRCLE, GANNAVARAM SUB-DIVISION, KRISHNA DISTRICT-521105.

4. THE SUBINSPECTOR OF POLICE, HANUMAN JUNCTION CIRCLE, MANGALAGIRI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH-522503.

5. THE DIOCESE OF KRISHNAGODAVARI COASTAL ANDHRA, OF

THE CHURCH OF SOUTH INDIA REPRESENTED BY ITS BISHOP

AND CHAIRMAN, RT.REV.DR.T.GEORGE CORNELIOUS, S/O. NOT

KNOWN

TO

THE

PETITIONER,

CSI

KRISHNA-DIOCESE,

VIJAYAWADA,

CSI

COMPLEX,

GOPAL

REDDY

ROAD,

GOVERNORPET, VIJAYAWADA-520002.

6. K VIVEKANAND, S/O. NOT KNOWN TO THE PETITIONER, AGED

ABOUT 52 YEARS, OCC. PASTOR, RIO. AZRAIAHPET, NUZIVEDU, ELURU DISTRICT-521201.

...RESPONDENT(S):

Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased topleased to issue an appropriate writ, order or direction, more particularly, one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, declaring the action of the Respondent Police in interfering with the religious and day-to-day affairs, worships (including prayers) of the CSI Zion Church, Bapulapadu Village and Mandal, Krishna District at the instance of Respondent Nos.5 and 6 and in threatening the Petitioners with dire consequences and false cases in the event they don't cooperate and hand over the affairs of the Church to the Sixth Respondent Pastor as illegal, arbitrary, violative of principles of natural justice and Articles 14, 19, 21, 25 and 26 and consequently direct the Respondent Police not to interfere with the religious and day-to-day affairs, worships (including prayers) of the Church and not to pressurize the Petitioners or the Members of the CSI Zion Church to cooperate and hand over the affairs of the Church to the Sixth Respondent and pass IA NO: 1 OF 2026

Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased pleased to direct Respondent Police not to interfere with the religious and day-to-day affairs, worships (including prayers) of the CSI Zion Church, Bapulapadu Village and Mandal, Krishna District at the instance of Respondent Nos.5 and 6 and threaten the Petitioners or the Members of the Church with dire consequences and force the induction of Sixth Respondent as Pastor of the Church and pass Counsel for the Petitioner(S):

1. M R K CHAKRAVARTHY

Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1. GP FOR HOME

2. GUNDAPU RAJESH KUMAR

The Court made the following:

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE SUBHENDU SAMANTA

WRIT PETITION NO: 2770/2026