Nearly 99 per cent of temple trustees under Malabar Devaswam Board active in politics

Kozhikode: Even as the Kerala High Court barred the inclusion of political party representatives in the administration committees of temples, nearly 99 per cent of the non-hereditary trustees of temples under the Malabar Devaswom Board are nominees of political parties.

The Devaswom Board has been accused of not following appropriate criteria for the selection of trustees, in order to facilitate the entry of people involved in active politics into the administrative committees.

A block panchayat member and CPM local committee member has been serving as the trustee board chairman of a renowned temple in Perambra. By the same token, the local leaders who belong to the governing parties hold precedence for appointments as non-hereditary trustees in most of the temples under the Malabar Devaswom Board.

Meanwhile, president MR Murali dismissed the allegations against the board and asserted that the court was only reminding them to abide by the guidelines for appointments.

Less than half of the total 1,400 temples under the Malabar Devaswom Board have been administered by the trustee board. Only 25 per cent of the trustees administering temples have non-hereditary trustees. President said that the trustees are selected from the interested locals after notifying the public regarding the vacancies. They are providing cent per cent free service, added the president.

However, it is found that the board has not scrutinised the eligibility for the appointment of non-hereditary trustees in accordance with the trustee appointment notification. The recommendations of the parties were considered in many cases.