CM VD Satheesan to mediate Jacobite-Orthodox church dispute: Kerala government to Kerala High Court

The Kerala government has proposed initiating a mediation process to resolve the long-standing dispute between the Orthodox and Jacobite factions over the administration of six Malankara churches in the State [Fr Varghese Palathinkal & ors v St Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church & ors and connected cases].

The State said that Chief Minister VD Satheesan has personally taken up the matter, and that a high-level mediation could be carried out to bring the two factions to the table for an amicable settlement.

The State government made the submission in a statement dated August 8, 2026. The statement was filed, pursuant to a direction issued by the High Court on August 4, in one of the seven writ appeals.

The appeals are tied to disputes between the Orthodox and Jacobite factions over the administration of six churches - three of which are situated in Palakkad, two in Ernakulam and one in Kollam.

A Division Bench of Justices AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Preeta AK is slated to deliver its judgment on the appeals on August 13, 2026.

The matter relates to a historical rivalry between the Orthodox and Jacobite factions of Malankara Christians, focusing on administrative control over several churches.

The Orthodox and Jacobite factions were initially part of the same church, but eventually split over differences on who the church should owe its allegiance to. 

In 2017, the Supreme Court in KS Varghese v St Peter's and Paul's Syrian Orthodox Church and others upheld a 1934 Constitution recognizing the Orthodox faction's authority over church administration.

The Orthodox faction, however, claimed that the implementation of this judgment has been inconsistent, leading to ongoing conflicts.

In its August 6 statement, the government observed that the prolonged litigations between the Orthodox and Jacobite factions has caused distress and suffering to the parishioners of both factions and have resulted in situations affecting public order.

It also pointed out that there are approximately 1,100 Malankara churches in Kerala, held either by the Jacobite faction or the Orthodox faction, where both factions are constituents of the same ancient Church. Both factions have made contributions to various areas, including education, healthcare, charity and social reform, the State added.

Against this backdrop, the State has submitted that Chief Minister VD Satheesan is personally looking into how the long-standing disputes between the two factions could be settled.

"The Hon'ble Chief Minister has personally taken up the matter, and the Government proposes to engage in discussions with the denominational heads of both the Orthodox and the Jacobite factions and will be taking earnest efforts to bring both factions to the table for an amicable settlement of their long-standing disputes," the government's statement reads.

The State further stated that any settlement reached through the process of the proposed mediation would subsequently be placed before the High Court.

In 2022, the Kerala High Court permitted Orthodox members to conduct prayer services in specific disputed churches. However, efforts by the State to enforce this order were met with resistance, with Jacobite parishioners blocking entry to the church premises.

This led to a contempt of court case being filed. On August 30, 2024, a single judge Bench of the High Court directed District Collectors to take over the possession of six churches caught up in the dispute.

This order was challenged by both the State and Jacobite factions. A Division Bench of the High Court initially dismissed these appeals. The matter then reached the Supreme Court. The top court remitted the matter back to the High Court for fresh consideration.

The Division Bench of the High Court thereafter set aside the directive for Collectors to take possession of the churches, but permitted the single judge to decide how to proceed further in the contempt case. The matter eventually reached the Court's Division Bench again.

The Kerala government's statement in the case has been filed by the Chief Secretary Bishwanath Sinha through Additional Advocate General Mohammed Shah PA.

The Orthodox faction is being represented by Senior counsel S Sreekumar, assisted by advocates Roshan D Alexander, Tina Alex Thomas, and Harimohan.

Senior counsel K Ramakumar, and advocates Saji Varghese and Sajan Varghese are among the counsel who represent Jacobite members.