Hyderabad: Hyderabad: Members of the Catholic community at Sacred Heart Church in Lallaguda defended their position after the South Central Railway (SCR) issued an eviction notice to the historic church.
They said that they have a legal agreement with Nizam’s Guaranteed State Railway (NGSR) valid for 100 years till 2027.
On Feb 16, 1927, the railway agreed to provide land for the construction of a church. Planning permission was granted in March 1927 and work began in July of the same year. The cross-shaped church was built at a cost of 7,000, including a contribution of 1,000 from the Nizam.
In the early 1900s, Lallaguda, which served as the locomotive headquarters of the NGSR, was a small colony with a few Catholics, where Mass was celebrated on Sundays at the railway school. The area was predominantly populated by Anglo-Indians, who transformed the place to reflect British cultural elements, making it a little England.
According to community members, they pay royalties to the railway, either half-yearly or annually, as stipulated in the lease agreement, with current receipts valid until 2025. They note that this is the first time the SCR has issued an official notice challenging the church’s presence on railway land.
“We refuse to be labelled as land grabbers or encroachers. With valid legal documents and a lease agreement that runs until 2027, the railway authorities have issued a premature notice, even though there are three years left for renewal. In fact, SCR’s notice contains incorrect terminology throughout. After the lease period ends in 2027, we will renew the agreement with SCR,” church priest Father Joannes Mettu told TOI.
When SCR officials were contacted about the eviction notice and their stand on the legal documents and agreement, they refused to comment.
On Nov 12, the SCR issued a notice identifying the religious institution as an unauthorised encroachment on railway land measuring 3,534 square metres. The notice said: “In connection with the above matter, this is to inform you that your religious structure Sacred Heart Church located on railway land in SLGD Officers and Staff Colony has been constructed illegally. It is an encroachment on railway land.”
“In view of the above, you are hereby strictly directed to vacate the encroached land by Dec 12, 2024 (one month from the date of receipt of this notice). Failure to comply with this directive will necessitate eviction proceedings under the provisions of the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 and legal action may be initiated against you,” the notice said.
Roydin Roach, a Christian minority coordinator, clarified that the notice was a standard notice that had been mistakenly sent out. He insisted that it had nothing to do with eviction proceedings, but was a reminder to renew the lease when it expired.
