Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Monday suggested that the State government consider appointing V.M. Gopala Menon, Transport Secretary, as Chief Commissioner of the Travancore Devaswom Board as the board would not be able to manage its affairs when the tenure of two of its members comes to an end in November.
The Bench comprising Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice Anu Sivaraman also directed the State government to take a decision and inform the court. The court observed that the name of Mr. Gopala Menon would be worth considering since he had dealt with the Devaswom matters for some time. Besides, he had been the Chief Commissioner for the Cochin Devaswom Board and also dealt with the Guruvayur Devaswom. The court observed that there was the likelihood of administrative problems in the TDB in view of the fact that the tenure of two of the three board members would come to an end soon.
Sabarimala affairs
The court was of the view that lack of continuity of proper administration through an existing mechanism would adversely affect the management of affairs at Sabarimala.
It was in this context that the Bench suggested appointment of a Chief Commissioner for the board.
The tenure of Board president M.P. Govindan Nair and member Subhash Vasu would end on November 12. Thus, the board would be left with only one member P.K. Kumaran. As per the provisions of the Travancore Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act, policy decisions cannot be taken by a one-member board.
Petition dismissed
Meanwhile, the Bench upheld the TBD decision to shortlist 14 priests for selection to the post of Melsanthi of Sabarimala and five priests for Malikappuram temple.
The TDB had placed the files containing the selection and decision of the TDB in this regard. The Bench also looked into the consolidated mark list prepared by the select committee.
According to him, there were serious defects in the constitution of the selection committee. The petitioner contended that the seven-member committee was constituted contrary to the directives of the Supreme Court in this regard.
The petitioner pointed out that the one of the board members was absent when the interviews were conducted.
High Court suggests Transport Secretary
V.M. Gopala Menon’s name
