Thiruvananthapuram: Contrary to earlier reports that Sabarimala tantri Kandararu Rajee-varu had given his expl-anation before the Travancore Devaswom Board, its president A. Padmakumar clarified that the board had not received it.
While talking to reporters after the board meeting on Tuesday, he also said that the purification rites could be performed only with the consent of the board. However, the tantri explained it to devaswom commissioner N. Vasu. He said it was not with their consent.
The tantri shut the temple for an hour and performed the rites soon after two women devotees, Bindu Ammini and Kanaka Durga, entered it on Jan 2.
Regarding devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran’s announcement in the Legislative Assembly that only two women had entered the Sabarimala, he said that the TDB had so far not given any list.
“As per the report of Sabarimala executive officer there was no confirmation on the entry of Sri Lankan woman in Sabarimala,” he said.
Devaswom commissioner Mr Vasu confirmed to DC that the tantri had given his explanation on Monday.
"I will be back in office only on Thursday. I will forward the explanation letter to the board. Accordingly, it will take appropriate action against the tantri," he said. The tantri’s explanation note has hinted that the purification rites were as per his judgement.
A TDB member told DC that the board doesn’t have hopes of the Supreme Court revoking its earlier judgment of the five-member constitution bench lifting age restrictions on women worshipping at the hill shrine.
The apex court will be considering 55 pleas which include writ and review petitions on Wednesday by the five-member constitution bench.
