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2026:APHC:21440

APHC010241072026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

AT AMARAVATI [3521]

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

TUESDAY,THE FIFTH DAY OF MAY

TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX

PRESENT

THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO

WRIT PETITION NO: 12582/2026

Between:

1. R EV DORAPALLI JOHN AGUSTINE, S/O. DORAPALLI JOHN

SUNDARAM, AGED ABOUT 83 YEARS, PRESIDENT / SENIOR

PASTOR, JMB CHURCH, R/O. 53-1-37, 1ST LANE CLOUGHPET

ONGOLE PRAKASAM DISTRICT, A.P

...PETITIONER

AND

1. S TATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL

SECRETARY, HOME DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS,

AMARAVATI,AP-522238.

2. T HE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, PRAKASAM DISTRICT,

ONGOLE, AP-523171

3. T HE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, LL-TOWN POLICE STATION,

ONGOLE, AP-523171

4. K PADMA JOSHI, W/O G. JOSHI, AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, OCC

RETD. TEACHER, R/O CLOUGHPET, 3RD LANE, ONGOLE,

PRAKASAM DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH. 523171

5. K MANOGNA KUMAR, S/O K. JOHN WILSON, AGED 49 YEARS,

OCC LECTURER ,R/O RAILPET, 1ST LINE, ONGOLE, PRAKASAM

DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH.- 523171

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2026:AP HC:21440

6. T YESUPADAM, S/O KUMAR DAS, AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS, OCC

BUSINESS, R/O EAST CHRISTIANPET, K.P. ROAD, ONGOLE,

PRAKASAM DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH., 523171.

7. K ALWYN SAMUEL, S/O SRI K.SAMUEL, AGED 65 YEARS, OCC

RETIRED RTC EMPLOYEE, R/O CLOUGHPET, 4TH LINE, ONGOLE,

PRAKSAM DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH,- 5231715.

...RESPONDENT(S):

Counsel for the Petitioner:

1. JALLI KANUKA

Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1. GP FOR HOME

The Court made the following:

ORDER:

The Writ Petition has been filed for the following relief:

“…to issue an appropriate Writ, Order or direction more particularly one

in the nature of Writ of Mandamus to Declare the action of the

Respondents 2 to 4 in interfering religious activities of the petitioner and

the pastor, permanent president of the JMB Church, Ongole based of

the Respondents 5 to 8 as arbitrary. Illegal, unjust, colorable exercise of

power, showing favoritism and interferes of the freedom religion and

practice and consequently direct the respondent No.2 to 4 to provide

immediate and adequate police protection to the Petitioner to ensure his

safe and unhindered entry into the Church premises including preaching

from the pulpit area and to enable him to perform his sacred duties as

Senior Pastor…”

2. Heard Sri C.Nageswara Rao, learned Senior Counsel, appearing for

Mrs.Jalli Kanuka, learned counsel for Petitioner and learned Assistant

Government Pleader.

3. Sri C.Nageswara Rao, learned Senior Counsel for the Petitioner,

submits that the Petitioner, aged about 83 years, is the Senior Pastor of

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2026:AP HC:21440

Jewett Memorial Baptist Church (JMB Church), Ongole. The Respondents 4

to 7 instituted SROP No.06 of 2017 before the learned I Additional District

Judge, Prakasam District, Ongole, seeking a declaration that the Standing

Committee resolution dated 06.06.2017 reappointing the Petitioner as Pastor

was illegal and contrary to the constitution of the Church, and also sought a

permanent injunction restraining him and others. By order dated 20.04.2026,

the learned Trial Court dismissed the said SROP, holding that the

reappointment of the Petitioner as Senior Pastor was neither illegal nor

contrary to the constitution of the Church, that there were no adverse remarks

against him in discharging his duties, and that the Petitioners therein were not

entitled to the relief of permanent injunction.

4. Per contra, Sri P.Ajay Babu, learned Assistant Government Pleader, on

written instructions, submits that the disputes are essentially internal to the

Standing Committee of the JMB Church, arising out of factionalism and

repeated clashes between rival groups, which have already resulted in

multiple criminal cases and civil proceedings. Preventive measures under

Sections 163 and 164 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for

brevity, ‘the BNSS’) have been invoked by the authorities to ensure peace and

order, and the situation is presently under control. In view of the fact that law

and order measures are already in place and the Pe