Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Feb 13: After the press meets, an open letter to bishop and threat of going back to original religion did not yield desired results, the residents of Jeppu Compound, gathered under the banner of 'Jeppu Parishioners Association' at Jeppu Club ground on February 12, and submitted a memorandum to J R Lobo, MLA of Mangaluru South.
The association claiming to represent 270 families led by Wilson Baptist, president of the association and Sathish Fonseca, secretary gave a detailed picture of the issue including the history of the residents of Jeppu Nagar. In the memorandum submitted to the MLA, they demanded the immediate withdrawal of eviction notices given by Mangaluru diocese to Valerian Texeira and Victor Pais, residents of Jeppu Nagar.
The association also urged the diocese to stop exercising authority over Jeppu Compound and urged that the people living there be given their legal rights over their house and properties. They also pleaded that Bishop of Mangaluru diocese should make sure to involve residents when there is any activity of land sale, lease agreement or other developmental works inside Jeppu Nagar.
They also stressed that residents, who were originally outsiders, but have bought land inside the Jeppu Nagar are also eligible to become original residents and the authority should give them the status of original residents.
The leaders of the association also stated that they are ready for dialectical discussion on this subject at any time and any place.
Accepting the memorandum and hearing the demands of the residents, J R Lobo said, "I know your sentiments and feelings. I will discuss the issue with concerned people. But I cannot give the assurance of a solution because it is a matter of land between two private parties. I will try to become a mediator and put all efforts to bring both the parties to the table. Both parties belong to the same community and religion. It will help if both parties move together and understand each other easily,”
"Do not connect this issue and the forthcoming assembly elections. It is not a matter of politics or governance. If people want to continue for another term, they will elect me. Otherwise, they will elect another candidate who they feel is better than me. This is my sincere effort to solve the issue before it severely harms our society," Lobo added.
The meeting that started with a prayer was compered by Eric Ozario.
Diocese responds
Speaking to Daijiworld, Fr William Menezes, PRO, Mangaluru Diocese said, "Diocese is discussing and trying to clarify this issue on the basis of government records and legal documents. Around the year 1880, the Jesuit priests purchased 37 acres of land which starts from the present day Mangala Hotel to Nandigudda, Attavar road,”
"Out of this 37 acres, 10 acres belongs to Jeppu Seminary and 17 acres to Jeppu workshop. Later 6 acre of land was given to Infant Mary Convent from the land that belonged to Jeppu Workshop. Currently around 10 acres of land comes under the ownership of Bishop of Mangaluru diocese,” he added.
"In the year 1880-81, Jesuits started a workshop by the name of 'Jeppu Workshop'. They gave employment to destitute and poor people and constructed rental houses for them in Jeppu Compound. At the same time, some independent houses were also constructed in the compound by the management. The management also constructed a colony at Belve with the intention of providing job and stay for poor," he informed.
Continuing his clarification on this issue, Fr Menezes said, "If Jesuits had the intention of giving the ownership of the land to the residents, then they would have given the same to the residents that time only. The basic documents of these lands are now misplaced and untraceable. Also these documents are over 100 years old and the quality of the paper of that era was very poor,”
Fr William Menezes
"But as per the 'Settlement Registrar of 1902', the entire land belongs to Bishop of Mangaluru diocese and the documents are available to us. As per the record of 1929-30 Bishop of Mangaluru diocese has a Patta for the entire land and also RTC in his name for Jeppu Compound. Later the managers of Jeppu Workshop handed over part of the land to some residents of the Jeppu compound on the basis of 'Mulgeni Perpetual Lease' and for some with 'Complete Ownership'. The decision of giving lease deed to tenants was completely looked after by workshop management committee,” Fr Menezes said.
"From past many years, Valerian Texeira, Victor Pais and Wilson Baptist, the residents of Jeppu compound, with the help of Right to Information (RTI) are trying to know the land details of the Jeppu compound and the authority of the Bishop of Mangaluru diocese over the same. They are engaged in making queries from village accountant to the President of India. When government officials and departments asked the details from us, we have provided them all without any failure,” he said.
“Now they are alleging that Bishop has encroached the government land that exists in Jeppu Compound. Bishop does not have any records for his land and whichever he has is all forged. Bishop is not the owner of the Jeppu compound and the residents are not tenants. So the ownership of the land should go to residents," he added.
Fr Menezes also said, "Valerian Texeira and Victor Pais should prove their allegations which they have made against the Bishop of Mangaluru diocese. They should bring proofs and documents to prove what they have alleged is correct. We have already filed a case against them in this regard in the court and the matter is sub judice."
Rs 17 crore bungalow
“It was alleged in a press meet by Eric Ozario that the bishop has built a bungalow worth Rs 17 crore to live after his retirement. Some newspapers carried this news without verification of facts. But this information is completely untrue. Juze Vas Home, built near St Antony Ashram in Jeppu, is a house for 45 retired priests where bishop has a single room. This is not a luxury home at all, but a home with basic needs. The home has a convent also. Workers also stay there. Bishop does not need any luxury as he lives like a simple person. Moreover, Juze Vas Home was not built on any land of Jeppu Compound. That is a separate land which belonged to the diocese,” Fr Menezes said commenting on the news reports which appeared recently.
Leaving the religion
“It was threatened in a press meet that some residents will leave Catholicism and go back to their original religion. Everyone is free to choose any religion. He or she can go to any religion of choice at any time. But an atheist does not belong to any religion. So an atheist migrating to another religion does not look like a coherent statement,” opined Fr Menezes.
Dispute
“We never stopped anyone from building houses or not enjoying the rights over the properties. Efforts have been made to project that diocese has a dispute with all the residents of Jeppu. But we do not have any such dispute. Three people have taken the diocese to court. So the dispute is between those people and diocese. Once they have approached the court, why should they use other means to settle scores? Let them wait for the court verdict,” Fr Menezes concluded.
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