Amid raging protests, CSI Church comes in strong support of Forest Bill

Amid growing outrage over the proposed Kerala Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which threatens to escalate into a major protest spearheaded by the Catholic Church, the Madhya Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India (CSI) has taken a contrasting stance.

In a joint statement issued on Saturday, Bishop Malayil Sabu Koshy Cherian and CSI environmental advisor Mathew Koshy Punnackad called the Bill a significant step forward in safeguarding the State’s critical ecosystems. They emphasised that the legislation addresses pressing issues related to forest conservation and provides a robust framework to mitigate challenges faced by Kerala’s forests. The statement urged the government to pass the Bill without dilution and ensure its rigorous implementation.

“By enacting and enforcing this legislation, Kerala can set a precedent for sustainable forest management and inspire other States and nations to follow suit. Let us act decisively to protect our forests for the sake of future generations and the sustainability of our planet. The time to act is now,’‘ according to the statement.

Responding to criticisms that the Bill grants unchecked powers to forest officials, Bishop Cherian stressed the importance of closing any loopholes that might allow exploitation under the guise of addressing other concerns. “Only a strong legal framework, possibly with hefty fines, will help curb the unbridled attack on the fragile ecology and ensure its protection,’‘ he said.

The stance of the Kottayam-based CSI diocese marks a sharp departure from that of the Catholic Church and various political parties in central Travancore. Just days earlier, the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) had voiced strong opposition to the Bill, arguing that it would harm farmers living along forest fringes.

One of the most contentious provisions of the proposed Bill allows any forest officer, not below the rank of a beat forest officer, or any police officer to arrest and detain individuals suspected of forest offences without a magistrate’s prior order or a warrant. This has drawn sharp criticism, with the Catholic Church and two factions of the Kerala Congress demanding an investigation into how the provision passed scrutiny by the Law Secretary, given its apparent conflict with the Supreme Court guidelines on arrests and citizens’ rights.