NEW DELHI: The CRPF has said that the single bench order of the high court to take over the disputed Kothamangalam church cannot be implemented. Law and order is a matter for the state. The CRPF explained that it could not interfere in the internal affairs of the state without the request of the state government.

The Central Army has requested that the order to take over the Kothamangalam church using the CRPF be amended. In this regard, a review petition was filed in the High Court. The government had also appealed against the single bench order to take over the church using the CRPF. The government had demanded that the single bench order be stayed immediately.

The High Court single bench order was to use the CRPF if the district collector did not take over the church before January 8. If the state government does not take over, the central government should take over the church using the CRPF. CRPF Pallipuram camp will be in charge of this. The High Court had also directed the Additional Solicitor General to inform the CRPF of the order.