Only Hindus as Devaswom commissioners: Kerala High Court
The amendment stated that a government additional secretary or joint secretary could be appointed to the position.
Kochi: The High Court on Friday stated that only a person belonging to the Hindu community should be appointed as the Commissioner of Devaswom.
The court issued the order in a petition filed by the BJP state president PS Sreedharan Pillai stating an amendment brought to Travancore-Kochi Hindu Religious Institutions Act-1950 aims to facilitate the appointments of non-Hindu’s as commissioner of Devaswom.
Although the government had submitted that only a person from Hindu community will be appointed as Devaswom commissioners the petitioner contended that the amendment has changed the stipulation that only a member from the Hindu community shall be appointed to the position.
The amendment stated that a government additional secretary or joint secretary could be appointed to the position. The petitioner said the two clauses opened the possibility of a non-Hindu becoming Devaswom commissioner in violation of the existing rules and previous orders.