Kochi: The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) Education Commission has strongly criticized the repeated attempts to gather personal data on Christian educators and clergy employed in educational institutions, terming such efforts as divisive and rooted in communal animosity. The Commission called on the government to discourage unnecessary and biased inquiries targeting members of the Christian community and to ensure that administrative actions are not swayed by malicious and unfounded complaints.
The controversy resurfaced after a renewed complaint filed by the same individual who had previously been involved in a similar incident prompted the Deputy Director of Collegiate Education in Thrissur to demand details regarding priests and monks serving in various colleges. This move has sparked concern among educational leaders and community members, particularly since four education department officials were suspended just two months ago for initiating a similar probe based on a baseless complaint.
The KCBC Education Commission emphasized that religion plays no role in government appointments or service eligibility, and as such, collecting religiously-tinged data about staff is not only irrelevant but potentially inflammatory. “Such actions serve no administrative purpose and only feed mistrust and religious tension in society,” the statement read.
Pointing to a previous directive by the Education Minister, the Commission reminded that the Director of General Education had been asked to lodge a police complaint against the complainant for spreading misinformation and attempting to create discord. It urged the government to follow through with strong legal action, sending a clear message that sectarianism and religious profiling have no place in a secular democracy.
The Commission also cautioned against the spread of divisive narratives that question the integrity and service of any community based on faith. “These patterns of behaviour when left unchecked pose a serious threat to social harmony, sow distrust among communities, and undermine the inclusive fabric of Kerala’s educational system,” the Commission noted.
It called on civil society and the wider public to remain vigilant against those who promote religious hatred, and to stand firm in defending secularism, peaceful coexistence, and truth. The Commission concluded with a call for responsible governance that prioritizes unity and common good over appeasement of divisive interests.