Kochi: The high court on Thursday directed police to ensure that law and order was maintained during the annual festival at St Mary’s Church at Thrikkunnathu Seminary, Aluva.
The directive was on a petition filed by priest Yacob Thomas alleging that the Jacobite faction of Syrian Orthodox Church might sabotage the festival.
The petition had also alleged that district police chief and other authorities were acting hand-in-glove with the Jacobite faction.
“It is apprehended that the authorities may succumb to political pressure, issue prohibitory orders citing law and order problems, and then close down the church,” the priest had alleged in the petition.
The petitioner had demanded that in such circumstances, the inspector general of Kochi range and district police chief of Ernakulam Rural should be ordered to provide adequate protection, ensuring strict compliance of the high court order.
Through an earlier order on January 22, the high court had clarified that it was the Orthodox faction that has the right to conduct prayers at the annual festival, in view of the Supreme Court judgment that the issue regarding right to administration and conducting prayers be resolved in accordance with a 1934 constitution of Malankara Association.
However, the high court had said that its order does not prevent any believer from entering the church for prayers.
“But those who enter should not try to prevent the Orthodox faction from conducting the rituals,” the court had directed.
(Source: The Times of India)