Kolencherry Church row: Rebel Jacobite Plea for status quo dismissed

HC adjourns Kolenchery Church case to Nov 2

KOCHI, 30th September 2011: The Kerala High Court has denied a petition by the Rebel Jacobite Syrian Christian faction (dissident Patriarchal group) to maintain the status quo of rights at the disputed Kolencherry St Peters’and St Paul’s church. The High Court on 30th September 2011 adjourned the Kolanchery Church case to November 2 after recording submissions by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and Rebel Jacobite faction that they will participate in the negotiations with the government through its subcommittee.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and C T Ravikumar passed the order while considering a petition filed by the Rebel Jacobite faction challenging the order of Additional District Court granting permission to Orthodox Church for administration of the Kolenchery church and a chapel at Kottoor.

The court also urged the parties to do the needful to come to a peaceful solution through reconciliation. To enable the process, the parties will maintain good relationship even at individual level, the court said.

Meanwhile, the government submitted that the state has no particular interest in either of the two factions and the utmost importance that the state would give is to ensure that peace and tranquility prevail and law and order is maintained. This is the first among the foremost duties of the state.
The court recorded the government’s submission. “The peaceful modes of conciliation of such litigation should be the first priority rather than carrying an adjudicatory process,” the court said.


Source: Express News Service



Court Order.
http://www.malankaraorthodox.tv/Court%20Orders/Kolenchery_order_sept_30_2011.pdf