The State government on Tuesday informed the Kerala High Court that the Supreme Court verdict in the Piravam church case could be implemented only in a phased manner and that too without bloodshed.
In an affidavit, the government said that St. Mary’s Syrian Church, also known as Piravam Valiya Palli, had been under the control of the Jacobite faction till the date. The minority parishioners, belonging to the Orthodox faction, wanted control over the church following the Supreme Court judgment. There was still resistance from the majority believers against the Orthodox faction taking forceful control of the church administration.
The government said that law-and-order issues had arisen due to resistance from the Jacobite faction when the Orthodox faction leaders attempted to enter the church and take control of the administration on May 8, 2018.
Entry prevented
The police and district administration had interfered in the matter. On December 10, 2018, the Jacobite faction prevented the entry of the Orthodox priest and his followers. The police had restrained themselves, as it was a religious place. Had a forceful entry been allowed, there would have been loss of life. Following the incident, the police and district administration realised that implementation of the Supreme Court judgment could be done only in a phased manner.
Suggestions
The police had made certain suggestions which the believers should abide by for the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment. The suggestions included submission of a statement by the Malankara Church believers who intended to enter and participate in religious functions at the church before the Station House Officer of Piravam police station along with their Aadhaar or election ID card, affirming that they accepted the 1934 Constitution of the Malankara church and issue of passes by the police to each member of the parishioners for entering the church and its compound.
Entry for 250
A total number of 250 believers (125 males and females each) and a maximum of 50 children aged below 10 along with his/her father or mother alone shall be allowed inside the church. The priests and choir members shall leave the church premises 20 minutes and others 15 minutes after religious functions. The police should be given total operational freedom in respect of entry of any persons inside the compound of the church.
The court reserved its order in the case after hearing the arguments advanced by both the factions and the government.
