New Delhi, Jan 17, 2020: Kerala Chief Secretary Tom Jose has said that denying burial of bodies at Malankara Churches is a violation of human rights. The chief secretary noted this in an affidavit filed in a contempt of court petition filed by Orthodox faction in the Malankara church dispute case.
“The denying of burial resulted in violation of human rights and has social and religious consequences,” he said.
Government brought in the ordinance permitting conduct of burial rituals of Jacobite parishioners in their family cemetery now under the Jacobites’ control after there was a huge protest, chief secretary added in the affidavit.
He also submitted the copy of the ordinance at the Supreme Court. The chief secretary clarified that government was not a party in the civil case between Orthodox and Jacobite factions.
In order to implement the Supreme Court verdict Orthodox faction has to approach the civil court, he further added. Apart from CS, DGP Loknath Behera also submitted affidavit at the SC.
The contempt of court case filed by Orthodox faction in the Supreme Court, alleging the 2017 verdict on Malankara church case has not been implemented, will be considered by the bench including Justice Arun Misra and Indira Banerjee on Friday.
https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/denying-burials-at-malankara-churches-a-human-rights-violation-says-chief-secretary-1.4449554