Endorsed by Supreme Court’s remarks against the Chief Secretary of Kerala for the failure in implementing its earlier order on the church dispute, the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church is contemplating legal action against the State government for delaying implementation of the order.
Addressing media persons here on Thursday, Catholicate Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II, the Supreme Head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC), accused the government of siding with the Jacobite faction. The State government had not only remained insensate to the court order, but also continued lending support to the Jacobite faction, thereby encouraging the section to violate the rule of law, he said.
“For two years after the Supreme Court order, this government has chosen not to act and maintained that it is not a party in the case. This notion, however, has fallen flat with the latest order,” the Catholicate pointed out.
According to him, the apex court’s order never intervened in anyone's right to worship as it pertained only to the recovery of possession. All the promises given to the church by this government during the previous election time have turned hollow and when it came to the Piravom church issue, the government took a U-turn for reasons best known to it, he said.
Regarding the negotiation initiated by a Cabinet sub-committee, the Catholicate said the church would be open to any discussion only after implementing the existing court order. “We have never been against consensus, considering that a majority of devotees in the opposing faction want to live in peace. There is, however, no question of any settlement on our right of ownership over the properties,” the Catholicate said.
Commenting on the issue, Biju Oommen, secretary of the orthodox faction, said the church had already kick started consultations with legal experts on the possibility of moving a contempt petition against the State government. “It is unfortunate that a government, which showed the spirit and intent in implementing the order on the Sabarimala issue, is lacking the same quality when it comes to churches,” he said.