The State government on Tuesday attempted to amicably settle the ongoing conflict between the Orthodox and Jacobite factions of the Malankara Church over the administration of more than 1,000 parishes in Kerala.
Industries Minister E. P. Jayarajan headed the Cabinet subcommittee tasked with resolving the wrangle. However, a meeting of the panel wound up without any tangible result. Officials said they had made some headway though the Orthodox faction had stayed away from the meeting.
The Orthodox faction had accused the State government of having failed to implement the Supreme Court order of July 3, 2017 that gave the sect the right to administer churches in Malankara. However, Jacobites had thwarted their move to take over the Kothamangalam and Piravom churches despite a massive police presence.
Officials said the government was fixed on a peaceful solution to the problem and that it was loath to use force to implement the court order in the parishes lest it hurt believers and stirred unrest in society.