A bench of Arun Mishra and MR Shah expressed stern disapproval of the Kerala Government’s failure to implement the apex court’s order passed way back in 2017.

The Court’s order gave the Orthodox group control over more than 1,100 parishes and their churches. But the order was not being implemented as the State took refuge behind the plea that it was exploring all avenues to prevent a law and order situation.

“You (State Government) is not above law and we will summon all your officials including Chief Secretary to the Court and send them directly to jail from here. Do not make mockery of the court’s order We have the power to send people to jail for contempt,” an agitated bench said.

The apex court’s order came while hearing a petition filed by St. Marys Orthodox Church seeking a direction to the State police chief to provide adequate protection to the church, its properties, including chapels, cemetery and priests.

The Kerala Government repeatedly sought time to implement the order on the ground that it was trying to ensure peace between the warring factions.

What angered the court more than anything was that, instead of trying to implement its order, the State Government and the Chief Secretary were passing directions to the contrary. “We have tolerated too much and now the time has come to act against you. The law on the controversy is well settled and the court had passed the order. But fresh petitions are being filed in the High Court and this Court to waste time,: the court observed.

The SC order has come as a godsend for the opposition. It has vindicated their stand that the Pinarayi government was showing double standards while implementing the SC orders. For instance, the State Government showed an unseemly haste in implementing the court order on the sensitive Sabarimala issue.

That attitude earned the ruling Left Democratic Government the people’s wrath in the Lok Sabha elections. The CPI(M) and its allies which were hoping to win a majority of the 20 seats from the State were decimated, with the CPI(M) winning only one seat and the CPI drawing a blank.

But the Government has been in no hurry whatsoever while implementing the order on the church factions’ dispute. Critics alleged that this showed the CPI(M)’s bias against the Hindus and betrayed its policy of appeasement of the minorities. The SC’s latest order therefore constitutes a severe rebuke of the LDF Government’s double standards on implementing the SC orders, the opposition rightly contends. (IPA Service)