Protest against Malabar Devaswom Board taking over temple

Thrissur: Members of Hindu Aikya Vedi and temple committee blocked nearly 250 cops and officials of Malabar Devaswom Board on Thursday when they turned up at the Pardhasaradhi Temple in Guruvayur to take over the temple administration citing a High Court order. The stalemate that began at 7 am ended at 5.30 pm. Devaswom officials returned after a filing a police complaint that they were prevented from doing their duty. Nearly 250 cops led by city police commissioner Rahul R. Nair were at the temple to assist the devaswom officials to take over the temple administration at the request of Dewasom Board Executive Officer T.C. Biju.

Soon after, 12 cops in civil dress entered the temple. Protesters closed the main entrance of the temple to prevent officials and police. Later, HAV supporters gathered in front of the temple creating a tense situation. The devaswom official and workers’ union at the temple claimed that they had an order which vacated the stay on the devaswom taking over the temple. However, the temple panel members claimed the HC told the devaswom to consider an order from Chavakkad Magistrate Court before taking over the temple. That order was expected on Saturday.

“Some temple workers formed a CITU union demanding higher wages and alleged corruption. However, no agency could prove corruption by the temple committee. We filed a review petition in the court and before the order on it is out, they came to take over the temple,” temple committee member G. Krishnan said. He added that unlike Devaswoms controlled by the state, the temple panel was properly conducing audit and it was made public every year. “They eyed the temple revenue and made such a move,” he alleged. K. Gopalakrishnan, president of the union of workers said the HC ordered Malabar Devaswom to take over the temple by and on the basis of this Devaswom Commissioner had also issued a similar order.