The Hindu : Front Page : TDB restrained from making appointment

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Friday, Oct 17, 2008
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TDB restrained from making appointment

KOCHI: A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Thursday restrained the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) from appointing Melsanthis of the Sabarimala and Malikappuram temples. However, the TDB was allowed to draw lots for choosing the Melsanthis as scheduled.

The Bench of Justice P.R. Raman and Justice T.R. Ramachandran Nair directed TDB’s vigilance officer to conduct a detailed inquiry into complaints regarding the antecedents of candidates short-listed for the posts and submit a report directly to the court through the High Court registry in a sealed cover.

Till the report was considered by the court, the TDB would not issue any order of appointment after the draw of lots.

The Bench said it had gone through the report of the observer, the files relating to the applicants produced by TDB counsel, and confidential reports submitted by the vigilance officer.

K. Padmanabhan Nair, observer appointed by the High Court to oversee the selection of Melsanthis, had said in his report that he received an anonymous call on October 7 saying that two of the persons short-listed had never performed any kind of pujas in temples and that the experience certificates produced by them were bogus. The caller said they were involved in a criminal case.

He termed the present selection practice ‘unscientific.’

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