Kerala law secretary BG Hareendranath approves action in non-Brahmin priest row

Alappuzha: The law secretary B.G. Hareendranath has recommended contempt of court proceedings against Devaswom commissioner C. P. Ramaraja Prema Prasad who shelved the transfer of a non-Brahmin priest to Chettikulangara temple.

The file is now with Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran, who has to take a final call. Though DC made multiple attempts to contact him for an official confirmation, it failed.

The law secretary asked Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to appoint S. Sudhikumar, the victim of caste discrimination, at the Chettikulangara temple itself as Keezhsaanthi (assistant priest).

The priest urged the government to expedite his appointment. Mr Hareendranath said the commissioner's order violated Supreme Court verdicts and constitutional values.

"I hope the government will now take further steps," he told DC.

His report says the order undermined the spirit of legendary struggle like temple entry proclamation.

"This kind of regressive step is taken by an official as the government is taking progressive steps to abolish casteism," it says.

"Mr Sudhikumar is qualified priest having a backup of the tradition of priesthood for last three generations. It’s unconstitutional to argue that no other than Malayala Brahmin is exponent in performing priestly duties at Chettikulangara temple."

The District Congress Committee (DCC) has threatened an agitation if the government soft-peddles the matter.

"The ball is now in the government’s court," said the DCC president M. Liju, who wrote a letter to TDB president Prayar Gopalakrishnan criticising the order.

"So Mr Sudhikumar should immediately be appointed."

Mr Prasad, meanwhile, said he did not get either show cause notice or explanation from the Devaswom secretary.

“I am currently in Sabarimala. I did not know about the opinion. I will respond only after studying it,” he said.