In a setback for the Jacobite faction of the Malankara Church, the tribunal for local self-governments has dismissed its petition seeking to restrain the rival Orthodox faction from undertaking the renovation work of the cathedral at the bishop’s palace in Moovattupuzha.
The petition filed by Mathews Mar Ivanios and Fr Thomas Panachiyil had sought a direction to the Moovattupuzha municipality to withdraw the sanction it gave for the construction of the cathedral.
The plea was based on the claim of the Jacobite faction that the Moovattupuzha bishop’s residence and cathedral belonged to it and not to the Orthodox faction.
The tribunal headed by K.M. Balachandran also permitted an appeal by Thomas Mar Athaniosis, the Kandanad East metropolitan of the Orthodox faction, seeking to nullify an order of the municipal secretary staying the construction work of the cathedral.
The Jacobite faction had, on July 15, organised a rally protesting against the occupation of the bishop’s residence by Mar Athaniosis of the Orthodox faction.