Andhra Pradesh's new legislation to safeguard property of minority Christians

The Andhra Pradesh government is all set to enact a special legislation to safeguard the property belonging to Christian minorities in the state, Deputy Chairman of the House committee, M. Mahidhar Reddy, has announced.

The committee, headed by Reddy, had conducted a special meeting with Christian leaders, representatives of various Christian missionaries and minority institutions in Eluru at the District Collectorate.

The committee would now receive suggestions and advices from various Christian missionaries and religious organisations to prepare the special Act, Reddy said.

The committee members would coordinate all the information gathered during their tour and recommend the government to enact a comprehensive Act to protect Christian minorities property, he added.

He said the government after a long debate in Assembly, appointed the committee with the approval of all parties.

He said the deliberations on this matter had already concluded and the committee submitted its interim report to the government in May.

The committee would submit its final and comprehensive report to the government by the next session of Asssembly, he said.

According to Reddy, the police administration has been instructed to file cases against those who either have encroached or illegally alienated the Christian minority property.

He suggested that the revenue, police and registration departments should coordinate to protect the property of the minority Christian community, whereas the WAKF Boards Act would protect the WAKF property.

However, as there was no Act to deal with or protect the Christian minority property in the state, the government has decided to enact the Act, he added.