Until then, original suit in civil court will not proceed

Prayagraj: The Supreme Court has directed the Allahabad High Court to expedite its decision on the pending second appeal and stay application in the dispute involving the Church of North India. The apex court directed the High Court to dispose of the matter preferably within three months. The original suit, pending in the court of the Civil Judge Senior Division in Prayagraj, will not proceed further for the time being.

A bench of Justices Arvind Kumar and Vipul M. Pancholi passed the order on Friday in the case, The Synod of the Church of North India and others vs. Right Rev. Dr. Peter Baldev, a special leave petition filed against a September 1, 2026 order of the Allahabad High Court.

Both sides agreed: During the hearing, senior lawyers for both sides stated that they would be satisfied if the High Court disposed of the second appeal and the application for stay of the appellate court’s decision on the merits within the stipulated time. The Supreme Court recorded this agreement in its order.

The parties also stated that the plaintiff shall not pursue or proceed with the original suit No. 247/2023 pending in the Civil Court, Prayagraj, until the decision on the second appeal, stay application and, if necessary, the application for lifting the stay.

What should the High Court do? Second Appeal No. 652/2026 is pending in the High Court. The Supreme Court has directed the High Court to: hear the second appeal, dispose of the application for stay of the appellate court’s decision and decree, consider the application for lifting the stay, if any, and any related objections, and complete the entire process preferably by December 25, 2026. While disposing of the special leave petition, the Supreme Court has also considered other pending applications as closed.