Mangalore Insatiable greed over a property at Karangalpady has thrown to the wind the basic need of it’s long time occupant John Baptist and family of three females. St Aloysius College took a cruel turn on Thursday June 26 with the College administration getting the house summarily demolished in the midst of the monsoon rain.
Meanwhile John Baptist Lewis, a painter by profession stated that he lived in the house in Patrao Lane, Karangalpady for 40 years along with his family after the property owner Alice D’Souza, adopted him.
As per John Baptist, Fr Francis Almeida and Fr Cyril representing the College administration arrived to the spot and demolished the house. He was threatened and taken away from the spot during the demolition. As he returned he found the broken house.
P B D’Sa of PUCL and Suresh Bhat Bakrabail of Komu Souharda Vedike arrived at the spot and condemned the action taken by the College.
A press release from St. Aloysius College stated that the property bearing survey no. 224V-10 in 89A Kodialbail Village of Mangalore Taluk,(House No. 14-1-49, 49A) belonged originally to Alice Lydia D’Souza and who donated it through her Will to St Aloysius College on May 15, 1986. However, the Will also directed the College to build a house and give to her (Alice Lydia D’Souza) nephew, Errol Flin Gonsalves, or allow him to reside in the house that existed in the property (House no. 14-1-49, 49A), till his death.
After the death of Alice Lydia D’Souza, the property (Survey No. 224 V-10) was transferred legally to Karnataka Jesuit Educational Society that runs the College. Further, as per the wish of Alice Lydia D’Souza, her nephew, Mr Errol Flin Gonsalves was allowed to reside in the house that stood on the property without any interference. Errol Flin Gonsalves passed away on July 9, 2013.
But, Errol Flin Gonsalves had brought John Baptist Louis to look after him in his old age. John Baptist Louis has absolutely no relationship to the property and to the original owners of the house.
The Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) in its recent order dated 25-1-2014 (Revenue/C.R.255/R.12216/2014-15/A5) has rejected John Baptist Louis’ dubious resident letter which was acquired by producing false documents. In another order dated 25-2-2014 (Revenue/C.R.358/R.14947/13-14/A11) MCC has annulled his application questioning the ownership of the property held by the College, following his inability to produce any documents.
During the recent rainfall, a tree fell on the old house existing in the said property and damaged the dilapidated construction further, risking the lives. Also, as the College administration wants to develop this property for the good of students, it demolished the dilapidated construction existing in the said property, the College being the legal owners.
In the undertaking given to the police by John Baptist Louis (dated 8-11-2013), it is stated that he has no residence. However, the College has documents to prove that he owns a property and a house which is vacant (house no. 1-2-77) situated at Dharmatota, Boliyar Panchayat limits, Mangalore Taluk, D.K District. The College also has documents to prove that he has illegally acquired two ration cards. This only shows that John Baptist Louis has been trying to deceive the law and the authority by producing false documents. The two orders of MCC too bear witness to this character of John Baptist Louis. Added to this, he is also frequenting the premises of the PG Ladies Hostel of the College which is nearby, thus causing nuisance to the inmates.
