The proposed legislation that seeks to guarantee the right to burial for Christians will not adversely affect any particular denominations, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs A.K. Balan told the Assembly on Thursday.
Replying to discussions following the introduction of the Kerala Christian Cemeteries (Right to Burial of Corpse) Bill, 2019, Mr. Balan said it was aimed at empowering families belonging to a parish with the right to be buried in the cemetery where their ancestors had been interred.
Maintaining that the concerns raised by certain Christian denominations were unfounded, the Minister said the Bill was introduced on the basis of judgments issued by the Supreme Court in 2017 and the Kerala High Court 2019, both of which held that the last rites of no devotee should be disrupted in the name of faith.
The discussions witnessed United Democratic Front (UDF) members accusing the government of drafting the Bill without holding adequate consultations with Church heads.
Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said the Bill in its current form would pave the way for unforeseen consequences. Other UDF legislators claimed the legislation sought to homogenise the final rites of the Christian community, thereby going against the government’s avowed stance to preserve plurality among sections.
Dismissing such claims, Mr. Balan said the proposed legislation was aimed at protecting the rights of the deceased.
Industries Minister E.P. Jayarajan, who headed a Cabinet subcommittee to resolve the dispute, said the issue had affected the maintenance of law and order, prompting the government to intervene.
Following the discussions, the Bill was referred to the Subject Committee concerned to rectify its inadequacies.
