Kerala HC initiates contempt of court proceedings against Kerala Government in Church dispute case

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has initiated contempt proceedings against the state government in the Orthodox-Jacobite church dispute case. The court has directed the Chief Secretary and District Collectors of Ernakulam and Palakkad to appear in person on November 8.

The court had previously ordered the takeover of six churches involved in the dispute between the Orthodox and Jacobite factions, as per the Supreme Court verdict. The directive also required the government to provide adequate security for the takeover. However, due to non-compliance with this order, the High Court has now initiated contempt proceedings.

The Chief Secretary, along with the District Collectors of Ernakulam and Palakkad, has been ordered to appear in person on November 8, as charges are set to be framed. Despite repeated instructions from the High Court to take over the churches, no follow-up action had been taken. While attempts were made to implement the takeover, the state government informed the court that strong protests prevented the execution of the order. However, the High Court did not accept this explanation.

The churches to be taken over, as per the High Court’s order, include the Odaakkali and Mazhuvannoor churches in Ernakulam district, and the Mangalam Dam, Erikkanchira and Cherukunnam churches in Palakkad district. Despite these orders, the state government and police have been unable to take over any of the churches. 

The state government is expected to seek an extension from the Supreme Court.