Senior Supreme Court counsels shun TDB day before

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Confusion prevailed among the Travancore Devaswom Board officials after senior Supreme Court lawyers Aryama Sundaram and Shekhar Naphade withdrew from representing the board when the Supreme Court considers the review petitions and writ petitions on Tuesday at 3 pm. Instead, another senior lawyer Chander Uday Singh will appear for the TDB. A high power committee meeting of the TDB convened by chief secretary Tom Jose will be held at Government Guest House at Thycaud on Tuesday at 12:30 pm.

TDB president A. Padmakumar informed that C. U. Singh will be representing the board.  He alleged that certain organisations are behind senior counsel Aryama's withdrawal. Mr Sundar-am had previously represented the NSS on the Sabarimala women entry issue in Supreme Court. He had reportedly informed the board officials on the impropriety of appearing for TDB when he had earlier stood for an opposite stand. The board officials then approached  Shekhar Naphade who also turned them down for reasons still unclear. 

When the top court considers the review petitions on Tuesday, if the five-member bench seeks the opinion of the board, then Chander Uday Singh will apprise the stand. 

It is reported that Mr Sundaram will be appearing for VHP on Tuesday. Aryama Sundaram is the grandson of former diwan of Travancore, Sir. C. P. Ramaswami Iyer and son of C. R. Sundaram, former chairman of National Small Industries Corporation.  It was during the diwan's time, temple entry proclamation was announced which permitted dalits to enter Hindu temples. In fact, Mr Sundaram appearing for the TDB on the women entry in Sabarimala had triggered a debate among the people. 

Mr Padmakumar alleged that a prominent community organisation was instrumental in making Aryama Sundaram to withdraw.

“There are other Supr-eme Court lawyers to app-ear for TDB. We are hopeful of getting a favourable decision on the Sabari-mala issue on Tuesday. In case there is an adverse reaction from the Supre-me Court then we will amicably settle it in the all party meet. Ayyappan is there at Sabarimala, everything would be alright", said Padmakumar.

After the high power committee meeting on the Sabarimala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan too has also called a meeting at 3 pm which would take stock of the Supreme Court verdict.