Kottayam: In a major development in the Malankara Orthodox-Jacobite Church dispute, the Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the maintenance of the status quo with respect to the management and administration of the churches as they exist today.
The Churches have been asked to follow this order till the next hearing date in the case. At the same time, the apex court added that the state can intervene in case of any untoward incident.

A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan adjourned the hearing and posted the matter for a detailed hearing on January 20 and 30, 2025. The SC asked the Kerala government to furnish details regarding the population of Orthodox and Jacobite groups in the sub-region or grama panchayat. Lists of the churches under complete administrative control of both sections, churches where the management is under dispute, and the current status of administrative control in these churches should also be produced before the court.

During the hearing, the bench added that both parties will have the liberty to place their respective parish registers on record.

Orthodox Church's counsel Adv Chander Uday Singh requested the court to direct the continuation of its December 3 order that directed Jacobites to hand over the administration of six churches to their group instead of the status quo. But the bench declined his request.

However, Justice Kant asked Adv Kapil Sibal, who appeared for the Kerala government, to ensure reconciliation between the rival factions.

The apex court issued the orders while hearing the petitions filed against the Kerala High Court's direction directing the officials to take over the administration of three churches each in Ernakulam and Palakkad districts from the Jacobite group.
On December 3, the Court observed that the Jacobite members were prima facie in contempt and directed them to hand over the administration of six churches. The churches involved are St John's Besfage Jacobite Syrian Church at Pulinthanam, St Mary's Church at Odakkali and St Thomas Church at Mazhuvannoor under the Angamaly diocese, St Mary's Church at Mangalamdam, St Mary's Church at Erukumchira, and St Thomas Church at Cherukunnam under the Thrissur diocese.
The Court also asked the Orthodox faction to allow the Jacobite members to use the schools and burial grounds in the church compound.
(With Live Law inputs)