Verghese V Joseph –
In the diverse landscape of India, the ownership of land has long held significant sway over the country’s economic and social dynamics. Amidst the expectations of real estate magnates and industrialists, a surprising entity has emerged as the possible second-largest non-agricultural landowner in the nation — the Catholic Church of India.
Having said that, it must also be emphasised that the Catholic Church is only second to the Government of India in providing education, healthcare, and social services, contributing significantly to nation building. That is no mean heft, considering that the Catholics represent around a miniscule 1.55% (20 million) of India’s 1.4 billion population.
Contrary to popular belief, the Waqf Board is not the board that owns the most land in India after the government. After the government, the board with the largest land holdings in India is the Catholic Church of India. The Indian government held about 15,531 square kilometres of land as of February 2021, according to data from the Government Land Information System (GLIS) website. Of this total government holding, the land was being used by 51 ministries and 116 public sector firms.
At the same time, it is estimated that the Catholic Church in India perhaps owns 7 crore hectares (17.29 crore acres) of land across the country. The total estimated value of these lands, which house a multitude of facilities, including schools, universities, and churches, is well above Rs 20,000 crore. The Catholic Church acquired land over many years through various means, including donations, purchases, and historical leases. The management of these land assets is overseen by various trusts, societies, and church authorities.
Of late, there have been legal and regulatory challenges regarding the ownership of land by the Catholic Church, including disputes over ownership, leases, and the validity of historical agreements.
Waqf boards are the third largest landowners in India. As of December 2022, the total number of Waqf immovable properties entered on the WAMSI portal is 8,65,646. Additionally, 3,53,850 Waqf properties have been mapped using GIS (Geographic Information System) technology.
Globally, the Roman Catholic Church is perhaps the largest landowner; it owns over 70 million hectares of land, larger than the entire country of France. Its religious institutions own large swathes of land on every continent except Antarctica!
Coming back to India, the Catholic Church runs over a mammoth 50,000 schools and 400 colleges, six universities, and six medical colleges that look after over 85,000 beds across the country, several of them in remote locations. It also takes pride in more than 5000 registered NGOs catering to the basic needs of over 5 million poor and marginalised people annually.
With 174 dioceses, India’s Catholic Church’s extensive property holdings are evident in its ownership of a vast array of institutions across the country.
This expansive network of educational, healthcare, and religious institutions not only serves as a testament to the Church’s influence but also solidifies its position as the second-largest landowner in India, trailing only the Indian government.
This conglomerate of Christian trusts and charitable societies, with its widespread network of bishops, priests, brothers, and sisters, has been actively engaged in the propagation of the Christian message across the country. The extent of the Catholic Church’s property portfolio is truly remarkable, with its holdings rivalling perhaps even the budget of India’s navy.
Moreover, the Catholic Church’s land ownership ventures have extended beyond urban centers, with the acquisition of a Rs. 123-crore plantation in Kerala in 2009, showcasing its foray into the agricultural sector as well.
The Historical Roots of the Church’s Land Acquisition
The significant acquisition of land by the Catholic Church of India can be primarily attributed to the Indian Churches Act of 1927, which was implemented during the British colonial era. Under this act, the British dominion leased lands acquired through various conquests at discounted rates to aid in the propagation of Christianity among the populace.
This legislative framework enabled the Church to acquire land across India and establish a vast network of religious, educational, and charitable institutions to disseminate its message to the masses. However, the legal status of this land acquisition remains a subject of ongoing debate, with questions surrounding the legitimacy and transparency of these historical land deals.
Challenges and Controversies
The Catholic Church’s extensive land holdings have not been without their share of challenges and controversies. In recent years, the pro-Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre has begun to scrutinise the land deeds and leases held by the church, alleging that the colonial-era arrangements were somewhat skewed.
This heightened scrutiny has led to recent incidents such as the eviction of the Missionaries of Charity sisters from their Kanpur Cantonment property, where they had operated an orphanage since 1968, on the grounds that the 90-year lease had expired in 2019.
The Catholic Church’s land ownership has also faced legal challenges, as evidenced by the recent case of Cardinal George Alencherry, Kerala’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Church’s Major Archbishop Emeritus of Ernakulam-Angamaly region, who was ordered by the Kerala High Court to face trial for the sale of various holdings of the archdiocese. The court refused to accept the cardinal’s Canon law-based argument that he had independent and exclusive rights over the church properties, ruling that the ownership and rights were governed by civil laws.
Implications and the Way Forward
The Catholic Church’s extensive land holdings have far-reaching implications for India’s social, economic, and political landscape. The court’s ruling in the Cardinal Alencherry case has challenged the traditional notion of bishops’ absolute rights over diocesan properties, potentially leading to a shift in the Church’s approach to resource management and the rights of its members.
Moreover, the ongoing scrutiny and legal battles surrounding the Church’s land ownership have raised concerns about the transparency and accountability of these assets, particularly in the context of the Church’s role in addressing social issues and providing public services.
As India grapples with the growing demand for land, the Catholic Church’s land holdings have become a subject of increasing interest and debate. Navigating the complexities of this issue will require a delicate balance between respecting the Church’s religious and charitable activities, ensuring transparency and accountability, and addressing the broader societal needs for land and resources.
The Catholic Church’s position as the second-largest non-agricultural landowner in India is a testament to its historical influence and its commitment to the propagation of the Christian faith. However, the contentious nature of this land ownership, marked by legal challenges, allegations of impropriety, and concerns over transparency, have thrust the issue into the national spotlight.
As India continues to evolve, the role and responsibilities of the Catholic Church in the country’s land ownership landscape will undoubtedly remain a subject of intense scrutiny and debate. Striking a balance between the Church’s religious and charitable activities and the broader societal needs for land and resources will be a crucial task for policymakers, legal authorities, and the Church itself.
Has any study been done on the land holdings of Hindu trusts and societies along with that of independent sadhus and Baba’s? I guess the results of such a study will certainly spring a big surprise. Additionally it must also be borne in mind that most of the land and properties belonging to the catholic Church are put at the service of the public without discrimination of caste and creed . And the value of all properties put at a sum of Rs 20000 crores is not a huge sum given the current economic growth of the country and the wealth holdings of a few business houses in india.
You mention government land holdings in square kilometers and the church’s in hectares. The same yardstick should have been used for both
Thanks for mentioning Shishu Bhawan Kanpur where I live. We laity are not taken into confidence. The matter could have been easily resolved. Again in Kanpur rural an under construction church on Diocesan land was demolished, being illegal. Now a convent established in my parish in 1953 is shutting down. Ominous developments.
1 what are comparative figures for land holdings by each of the six or seven recognised religions in India.
2. Within each religion, the type of landholdings.
A. Donated by government / kingdom
B Bought by individuals and given for religious use
C bought by registered institutions for their use such as schools and colleges.
D. Cooperatives such as groups of parishioners.
Also, There are generalities about legal cases. The cardinal is high ranking. The land controversy is less than 50 acres. A postage stamp.
Hindu religious lands and villages for their upkeep have not been tabulated.
Central and state governments lands include roads, railroads, power lines, Cantonments, PSU mills , mines , airfields. And so on.
Are 99 year leases “ownership” within the meaning of the act?
This is an important mathematical puzzle. A monkey wrench.
Dissident Christians can demand their share of the loot. Hindutva groups can demand nationalisation of church properties.
Others can twist the data
Lastly, since the data is unattributed, it cannot be used by real academics, by jurists or by journalists.
Thank you dear Verghese for your painstaking data collection on the land held by the Catholic Church in the context of taking over the lease land managed by the Mother Teressa’s sister in Kanpur and the judgement passed by the High court of Kerala over the civil law prevailing over the Canon Law in the land scam as alleged against Cardinal George Allenchery. I think, it is not fair to conclude that the Catholic Church in India hold the highest portion of land of non-agricultural purpose without making a proper study on other Religious groups . For instance, in the history of Kerala, the land was set apart for ‘ Devaswam’ and ‘Brahmasm’. It was only under the first Communist Govt of Kerala, under EMS Namboodiripad, some portion of the land was distributed for the poor farmers. As you rightly mentions, this land is utilized for the gigantic work in the field of health and educations. your premonition surely hold good in the present context.
The real owners of multitude of institutions run by the Church are the ordinary members of Catholic Church. Yet, they get a raw deal in church run hospitals in the sense that they’re denied owner’s discount in inpatient treatment costs. I appeal to church authorities to be sympathetic to the plight of sabha members and do not work as profit centres when the counter party is a Catholic sabha member. Instead bill them cost plus 10% max.
The collective ownership of the people of God is entrusted upon the bishop as the ‘Juridical person” which the civil court is not ready to accept, I think. In fact, it is not fair that the civil courts don’t respect the Canon Law in so far as it doesn’t violate the civil law. In the past, civil laws looked only if the process of the Canon Laws, if observed. please note it is some of our faithful who challenges the civil laws and the judiciary is forced to disown the bishop as a ‘Juridical person’ for which the hierarchy too may have to ‘introspect’ how the balls of canon law is thrown before the civil law. In fact, Canon Law is seen as the ‘mother of civil law’ and one can find a lot of ‘Latin expressions’ in the civil laws and even the dress, customs, and order of the civil court reflects that of Roman Rota.
I question the basis of this data. How could you possibly calculate the land holdings of the Catholic Church when most dioceses and congregations would not have such records. Publishing such unverifiable data could create unnecessary problems with those inimical to the Church.
As a matter of principle I am against the church having vast land holdings, but I don’t think that this kind of reporting is in any way helpful.
Chhotebhai is absolutely right is questioning the basis of the data of property ownership by the Catholic Church. The parameters/yardsticks of comparison are also not uniform. The source of the data has also not been given. This tells on the credibility of the information.
It must be mentioned here that Bishops and Parish Priests are NOT owners of church properties. They are just custodians/caretakers. The ownership is with the Laity of the respective parish because parish properties are procured with donations from the Laity at large for the welfare of the local Laity.
What is the source of information that India has 20 million Catholics (out of 1.40 billion total population – Census 2011)? Do we have parish-wise and diocese-wise data on Catholics officially released by CBCI or CCBI? I doubt very much. The census (both 2001 and 2011) only says Christians constitute 2.3% of the Indian population.
Regarding the query of Dr John Dayal on 99 years lease, the lease agreement is valid for a period of 99 years, after which the property reverts to the lessor (the owner of the property).
Rights and Responsibilities:
The lessee has certain rights over the property during the lease period, including the right to use, occupy, and transfer the lease to another party. However, the lessee must also comply with the terms and conditions mentioned in the lease agreement.
Renewal and Extension:
Generally, a 99-year lease agreement does not offer an option for renewal or extension beyond the initial 99-year period. The property will return to the lessor at the end of the lease term.
Leasehold Property:
Properties acquired through a 99-year lease agreement are considered leasehold properties, meaning the lessee holds the rights to use and occupy the property for the specified period, but ownership remains with the lessor.
When a lease is for 999 years it is said to be perpetuity or for an endless duration.
I sincerely appreciate the prophetic write-up of the editor of ICM. This article must serve as a base for sincere introspection among the clergy (Cardinals, Arch/bishops, priests and nuns).
The point that the writer is trying to make is that the Catholic Church has huge land and properties. Is there any need to argue or debate? No.
The question is: Who enjoys the fruits of the land/properties? Of course, it is the clergy. In fact, except some well-to-do laity, a vast majority of the lay people live in sq. ft. I have a house of 880 sq. ft. But… the clergy lives in acres. Can anyone deny this?
Now another point that is raised by the readers is: People benefit from the institutions like schools, colleges, universities, hospitals and social service centers etc.
True. But… all these institutions are established mainly for “income generation”. Fees are collected from students and treatment charges are collected from patients. Tell me how many schools, colleges, universities and hospitals offer “FREE SERVICES”?
So, who benefits? The land owners and institution owners enjoy the benefits. Another bitter truth is that a vast majority of priests and nuns are just “managing the land, institutions and properties”. The question arises: Is this their vocation? Why should they become priests or nuns just to become “managers of institutions”?
This article must enable all church leaders, including men-women religious to INTROSPECT.
I don’t agree with the main evident message(s) of this article. The article is presented in such way that the catholic Church must feel guilty of its land possession. Are the landless people of India landless because the Church owns land? No. The data given in this article is faulty in many ways. It has given an account of the total government owned land in square kilometres. But the data of church land is given in acres or hectares. How can you compare data given on two different scales and make conclusions? So there is statistical error which, for me, raises questions about the competency and authority of the author on the matter. In many cases, the land the church owns became prime land following the development after the church brought in educational institutions. So it’s not the mistake of the catholic Church. In majority othe cases, these lands were rural and remote. Later the situation changed, and people have definitely benefitted and grown from the land possession of the church. But I don’t agree by Mr. Satyan’s comment in which he has mentioned that an introspection is required about who enjoys today the fruits of the land possession.