Amid police security, the Orthodox faction conducted the holy mass at St Mary's Cathedral in Kandanad on Sunday. This is the first time the Orthodox faction has entered the church since 1964 and was able to do so following the implementation of a Supreme Court verdict. Given the potential for tension, police have placed heavy security in the area. Believers of the Jacobite faction held a protest outside the Church seeking permission to enter and they were barricaded by police. 

Orthodox faction thanks Supreme Court 

Metropolitan of the Diocese -Mathews Mar Severios said, "We are pleased with the Supreme Court ruling. Thank you to the parishioners and police who helped to carry out the verdict." Severios said, "According to the 1934 constitution of the Malankara Church, anyone in the parish can enter the church. According to the Supreme Court verdict, we have the charge of the administration and can worship in the church," he said. The dispute between the Orthodox and the Jacobite factions has been an ongoing one, despite an SC verdict which gave the Orthodox faction control of all parishes under the Malankara church in Kerala. 

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Supreme Court reprimands Kerala govt for not following orders

Before the Orthodox faction was allowed entry in the church, Jacobite church was accused of preventing access to the Orthodox faction, despite orders of the high court and the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court blasted the Kerala government and threatened to put its chief secretary behind bars for not implementing its 2017 judgment on a dispute between two factions on right to conduct administration and prayers in churches. A bench comprising justices Arun Mishra and M R Shah, which was hearing a matter related to the implementation of its order on giving control of 1,100 parishes and their churches under the Malankara Church to the Orthodox faction.

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SC warned that they would summon the Kerala Chief Secretary for "making a mockery of the justice delivery system".

"Tell your Chief Secretary that if he intends to go against the Supreme Court's order, we will call everyone here. Is Kerala above the rule of law? You are making a mockery of the justice delivery system," an irked bench told the counsel appearing for the state.

The bench also warned that it may put the chief secretary of Kerala behind bars if the orders passed by the apex court are not implemented by the state, a lawyer appearing for the petitioner said.

(With Agency Inputs)

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