The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) that met here on Friday decided to seek an explanation from Sabarimala Tantri (chief priest) Kantararu Rajeevararu for closing the temple and conducting purification rituals following the entry of women to the temple on Wednesday.
The board had sought a report from commissioner N. Vasu on the Tantri’s decision to close the temple and conduct the rituals without its permission. Mr. Vasu submitted his report in the morning saying that the act of the Tantri amounted to gross violation of the Devaswom manual. The board discussed the report and served a notice on the Tantri to furnish an explanation at the earliest. As per rules, he is bound to provide the explanation within a fortnight.
Earlier Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran and Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunil Kumar had objected to the act of the Tantri and said it was a challenge to the Supreme Court verdict on the entry of women to the temple.
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