Hyderabad: Century-old Sacred Heart Church in Lallaguda faces eviction

The SCR notice stated that the church, built in 1927, was an encroachment on railway land and directed that it be vacated within a month. It further warned that failure to comply would result in eviction proceedings under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971, and could lead to legal action.

Hyderabad: A nearly century-old church at Lallaguda in the city faces uncertainty amid orders to vacate the premises.

Sacred Heart Church, the parish church of Catholic community in South Lallaguda, has been issued a vacation notice by the South Central Railway (SCR) stating that the religious structure located on railway land at SLGD Officers and Staff Colony was constructed illegally.

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The SCR notice described the church, built in the year 1927, as encroachment of railway land and advised that it be vacated within a month. “Failure to comply with this directive will necessitate eviction proceedings under the provisions of the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971 and legal action may be initiated against you,” it read.

In the early years of last century, Lallaguda, the Loco Head- Quarters of Nizam’s Guaranteed State Railway Company, was a small colony with a few Catholics where Mass was celebrated on Sundays in the Railway School by a Priest from St. Mary’s Church, Secunderabad.

In February 1927, the Railways entered into an agreement to allot a piece of land for the erection of a Church and permission to construct the Church was granted in March 1927 and construction commenced in July the same year.

The Church was in the shape of a Cross and cost Rs. 7,000 of which Rs.1,000 was Nizam’s contribution, and was dedicated to the Sacred Heart and blessed by Msgr. Vismara, the third Bishop of Hyderabad, details on the church website available on website.

An interesting aspect happens to be that while it was being equipped, the church bell caused much excitement. “Records reveal that a lively and amusing battle raged between the non-catholic residents and Fr. Tinti. While the former claimed that the tolling of the Church bell at 5.30 a.m. shattered the peace and quiet of the early morning, not to mention the blissful slumber of the late risers, Fr. Tinti asserted that the tolling of the bell was a necessity. Fr. Tinti’s diplomacy saved the situation and the Church bell till date continues to toll for all occasions,” it read.

Over the decades, the church got developed and the renovated and during the tenure of Fr. Madanu Arogyam, an asbestos structure with gallery was erected. It was blessed and inaugurated by Archbishop Samineni Arulappa. Fr. Chopparapu Arogyam installed the Blessed Sacrament in September, 1998 and during his tenure further modifications were carried out to the edifice and the asbestos roof was replaced with RCC roofing. Archbishop Marampudi Joji blessed the renovated Chapel in March, 2004.

However, the representatives of the church were not available for a comment on the SCR notice.