KERALA GOVERNMENT FAILS TO IMPLEMENT SC ORDER ON
PIRAVAM CHURCH AMIDST PROTEST
St. Mary church in
Piravom at Ernakulam witnessed violent protest when the Kerala Government tried
to implement the 17-month-old Supreme Court verdict regarding its ownership.
Supreme Court on July 3, 2017, had given the ownership of 1,100 parishes and
their churches to an orthodox faction as per the ‘Malankara Church’ Guidelines
of 1934. On Monday, 10th Decccember,2018,when the
Ernakulam district administration tried to implement court’s order, they were
opposed by the Jacobite faction.Protesters gave suicide threats
Many priests and
believers including women climbed on church’s roof and threatened to jump if
they implemented court’s order. Police also tried to handle the situation by
negotiating with the agitated crowd. Midst the chaos, two men also threatened
to set themselves on fire.The law and order situation continues in many regions
of Kerala due to the dispute between the Malankara Orthodox and Jacobite Syrian
factions. The reason for the brewing clash between the factions is the
ownership of Mar Thoma Cheriyapalli in Kothamangalam.A vicar from the orthodox
faction tried to enter the Piravom church for prayer, but he was denied entry
by Jacobites.
An Orthodox Church
believer Blessen Eldo said that police is not willing to implement the law
otherwise they would have taken this step earlier. “Police officers turning up
a day before the HC hearing show their move is in favour of the Jacobite
faction and government,” he added.
Prof. John Kurakar
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