Travancore Devaswom Board chief Prayar Gopalakrishnan firm on transfer'

ALAPPUZHA: The Travancore Devaswom Board has stuck to its decision to shelve the order transferring a non-Brahmin priest to the Chettikulangara temple in Mavelikara. This comes in the wake of Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran terming as illegal the action taken by the TDB. It may be recalled that the Mavelikara assistant devaswom commissioner had issued an order on June 14 transferring non-Brahmin priest Sudhikumar to the Chettikulangara temple. However, the TDB has shelved the order following protest from the Sreedevi Vilasam Hindumatha Convention, an outfit of the devotees, against the priest.

The minister in his reply to the submission moved by Kayamkulam legislator U. Prathibha Hari in the Assembly on Wednesday had said that stringent action would be taken against the attempt to bring back untouchability to the temple. Mr Prayar Gopalakrishnan, TDB president, told DC on Thursday that the appointment of a priest depended on the temple customs. “The priestly duties are bound to be performed by chosen people. Though there was a movement of non-Brahmin priests in 2002, it has lost relevance. The minister has expressed his opinion and I am making my position clear,” he said.

Asked about the Supreme Court verdict against any discrimination based on caste, he said that after the verdict in 2002, no court had said anything about it. Mr K. Raghavan, TDB member, blamed the Devaswom commissioner and assistant commissioner, Mavelikara, for the mess. “The decision on the transfer is often taken by the commissioner. My view is that the Supreme Court verdict should be followed. I support the cause of Sudhikumar,” he said.

Mr K. R. Jyothilal, Devaswom secretary, accused the TDB of not complying with the Supreme Court order in 2012. “The government had directed all deputy commissioners in 2014 not to take caste into consideration for appointing employees, including priests. If the TDB disobeys the order, it’s contempt of court,” he said.