Kerala government to effect posting of non-Brahmin priest
Sudhikumar is a qualified priest having the backing of priesthood tradition for the last three generations.
ALAPPUZHA: After the Law Secretary B.G. Hareendranath gave his opinion on September 2 seeking penal action against those who issued the order nullifying the transfer of Sudhikumar, a non-Brahmin priest, to Chettikulangara temple, the government has asked the Devaswom Secretary to issue an official order to uphold the transfer of the non-Brahmin priest. The order has been prepared by the Devaswom department following directions from Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran, sources said. The order will be sent to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) authorities asking them to implement the appointment of Sudhikumar as ‘Keezsaanthi’(assistant priest) at Chettikulangara temple at the earliest.
On August 14, Devaswom Commissioner C. P. Rama Raja Prema Prasad issued an order shelving the Mavelikara assistant Devaswom Commissioner’s order on June 14 transferring Sudhikumar from Puthiyidam Temple in Kayamkulam to Chettikulangara temple as ‘keezhshanthi’. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Devaswom Minister said that the direction relating to the appointment of Sudhikumar to Chettikulangara had been given on the basis of the law secretary’s legal opinion.
Adding that the government was facing fierce opposition from the Thantri and his right wing supporters against the appointment of a non-Brahmin priest to Chettikulangara temple, the Minister admitted that the process of initiating steps against TDB was not gathering pace. “The Government hopes that TDB will initiate steps in getting Sudhikumar appointed as Keezhsaanthi at Chettikulangara temple soon after they receive the order”, the Minister said. Apart from the appointment of Sudhikumar, sources said, the order had also mentioned the steps to be taken against those officials responsible for the regressive order.
The Law Secretary in his opinion says: “The order of the Devaswom Commissioner is instrumental in undermining the spirit of the legendary struggle like temple entry proclamation. This kind of regressive step is taken by officials as the government is taking progressive steps to abolish castesim from society. Sudhikumar is a qualified priest having the backing of priesthood tradition for the last three generations. It’s unconstitutional to argue that no other than a Malayala Brahmin is an exponent in performing priestly duties at Chettikulangara temple. In addition to this, it’s a violation of Supreme Court verdicts. So the order of the Commissioner should immediately be withheld, slapping a charge of contempt of court against him”.
