Kochi/Kottayam: Piravom was in the grip of tension over the dispute between the Orthodox and Jacobite factions on the St Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Church on Monday.
Hundreds of people, including women, owing allegiance to the Jacobite faction assembled inside the church in the afternoon, locked the gate and threatened to commit suicide if police entered the premises to hand over the ownership and administration of the church to the Orthodox faction on the basis of the SC orders.
Some of the believers, including women, climbed atop the church tower and one of them doused himself in kerosene threatening to immolate himself.
The police, who had gathered in strength to implement the apex court order, maintained restraint even as senior priests of the Jacobite Church reached the place and reiterated that the church will not be handed over to the rival faction at any cost. The senior priests pacified the believers and assured that the control of the church built by their ancestors will not be abandoned. They also requested the people to remain calm and asked the police to withdraw.
The High Court is scheduled to hear a petition seeking the implementation of the Supreme Court verdict on Tuesday. A petition filed by the Jacobite faction seeking to find an amicable solution between the two factions is also scheduled to come up in the court on Tuesday. The Supreme Court verdict of April 19 stated that the administration of the churches should be based on the 1934 constitution of the Malanakara Church. According to the Orthodox faction, the verdict is in their favour and that the administration of the churches should be handed over to them. The Jacobite faction on the other hand says the Supreme Court verdict has not mentioned anything about the transfer of ownership and that the matter should be resolved through talks. The Jacobite leaders also denied the charges of contempt of court raised by the supporters of the Orthodox faction.
