Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 10 (IANS) The Kerala government has proposed a high-level mediation process to find an amicable settlement to the long-standing dispute between the Orthodox and Jacobite factions over the administration of six Malankara churches in the State.
The government informed the Kerala High Court that Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has personally taken up the issue and that efforts would be made to bring the denominational heads of both factions to the negotiating table.
The proposal was made in a statement filed by the state on August 8, pursuant to a direction issued by the High Court on August 4 in one of seven writ appeals concerning the dispute.
A division bench of Justices A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Preeta A.K. is scheduled to pronounce its judgment in the appeals on August 13.
The six disputed churches — three in Palakkad, two in Ernakulam and one in Kollam — have been at the centre of prolonged legal and administrative battles between the two factions of the Malankara Church.
The government said the prolonged litigation had caused distress and suffering among parishioners of both factions and had, on several occasions, led to situations affecting public order.
The state pointed out that Kerala has around 1,100 Malankara churches administered by either the Jacobite or Orthodox faction, though both are constituents of the same ancient Church.
It also noted the contributions made by both communities in education, healthcare, charity, and social reform.
The government’s statement said Satheesan was personally examining ways to resolve the dispute and that the state would make earnest efforts to bring both sides together for an amicable settlement.
Any settlement reached through the proposed mediation would subsequently be placed before the High Court.
The Chief Minister had also expressed his desire to see an end to the decades-old dispute while participating in a Jacobite Church function held recently near his office in Thiruvananthapuram.
The dispute has a long legal history.
The Supreme Court, in 2017, upheld the 1934 Constitution of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, recognising the authority of the Orthodox faction in church administration.
Subsequent attempts to implement the judgment have repeatedly triggered resistance and fresh litigation.
In 2024, the Kerala High Court directed District Collectors to take possession of the six disputed churches.
The order was challenged by both the state and the Jacobite faction.
After the matter reached the Supreme Court, it was remitted to the High Court for fresh consideration.
The High Court Division Bench subsequently set aside the direction to the Collectors to take possession of the churches, while allowing further proceedings in the related contempt case.
The latest mediation proposal comes with the legal battle once again before the High Court.
The government’s statement was filed by Chief Secretary Bishwanath Sinha through Additional Advocate General Mohammed Shah.
With the Chief Minister personally taking up the issue, the government is now seeking to shift the focus from prolonged courtroom battles to negotiations between the two factions.
–IANS
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