Knanaya Jacobite Church dispute hots up

KOTTAYAM: The dispute regarding the election of the new trustee of the Knanaya Jacobite Church has attained a new dimension after a section of the community members challenged the decision in the High Court.  Archbishop Kuriakose Mar Saverios told DC that he has the authority to convene the association meeting under  clause 131 of the constitution. His statement is in the context of the allegations being levelled against him for  convening the meeting of the Knanaya Jacobite Association which is the highest decision-making  body of the Church comprising  the  representatives of clergy and laity. 

T.O. Elias,  member of a faction of the association,  said  the High Court  had nullified the election of Scaria Thomas, who was elected as the trustee of the  association.  Elias, who claims to be the incumbent trustee after the HC nullified the election of Scaria Thomas,  also alleged that the Archbishop had violated the court order by not seeking its prior permission  for convening the meeting. However, the Archbishop  ruled out the charges of the dissidents.

“The Archbishop can convene the meeting of the  association  under clause 131 of the constitution. For that we did not have to get the prior permission of the court", he told DC. The latest issue began after the Archbishop convened the association meeting on October 3  and  new office-bearers were elected. The previous association had its tenure till 2018. However,  Mar Saverios  told DC that he had convened the meeting after the previous association became inactive. Aggravating the disputes  between the two factions,  the members led by T.O. Elias, the previous trustee, tried to enter the seminary at Chingavanam. However, they were not given police protection for conducting the meeting. The discussions for settling the disputes are expected to take place in the coming days.