Kerala government lifts ban on religious services in jails

By Matters India Reporter

Kochi, April 6, 2023: The Kerala government has allowed Church groups and NGOs to resume religious and counseling services for prisoners in the jails of the southern Indian state.

The government revoked the March 31 order of Kerala Jail Director General of Police Balram Kumar Upadhyay banning these groups from prisons following a meeting of Cardinal Baselios Mar Cleemis, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Council of Kerala (KCBC), with state Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

A press note from KCBC spokesperson Father Jacob Palackapilly says the Jesus Fraternity that functions under the conference will conduct Maundy Thursday services in various jails in Kerala.

The police order had shocked the officials of the Prison Ministry India officials and Jesus Fraternity that have for decades visited jails to conduct religious services for prisoners and to offer them psychological help.

The police order came two days before the Church began the Holy Week rituals this year.

The press note says the chief minister has already informed Upadhyay the government decision.

Cardinal Cleemis on March 5 telephoned the chief minister twice to inform that it was injustice to deny prisoners’ right to seek help for psychological and religious needs.

Father Palackapilly termed as unjust the ban on the voluntary groups that offered help for the prisoners’ inner conversion and religious life.

The priest also said the Jesus Fraternity volunteers’ services have helped the growth of prisoners psychological and spiritual and encouraged them to return to normal life.

Earlier, the Prison Ministry India officials had expressed shock over the police order.

Father Martin Thattil, who coordinates the ministry’s services in Kerala, said they had permission to visit jails in the state until July 4.

Jail authorities annually renew the permission.

Father Francis Kodiyan, national director of the Prison Ministry India, regretted the police order issued without assigning any reasons. However, it was applicable only to Kerala, he explained.

The Prison Ministry of India, which began as the Jesus Fraternity in Kerala five decades ago, has become a national organization with units in several states. It has also gained pontifical recognition.

Father Thattil says they have appealed to the federal government to revoke the order and allow prisoners to access spiritual and psychological services.

Soon after the police order Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, and Cardinal Cleemis contacted the Kerala chief minister, who is also the state Home Minister in charge of Police.

The chief minister told the prelates that the order was issued without his knowledge and an explanation will be sought in this regard.

The circular, without assigning any reason, had banned not only religious services, but also counseling, classes, and legal assistance from outside by voluntary agencies.

Kerala has some 55 jails, including six federal prisons. The Prison Ministry of India’s Kerala services are coordinated by the directors of its units in 32 dioceses and 8 regions.