Thiruvananthapuram: In a move aimed at restoring credibility to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and addressing the controversy surrounding the Sabarimala gold smuggling scandal, the Pinarayi Vijayan government has appointed former Chief Secretary K Jayakumar as the new head of the temple administration body.

The decision comes as the High Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) continues to probe the alleged theft and illicit sale of gold plating from the Sabarimala temple, reportedly involving former senior officials.

“The Devaswom Minister (VN Vasavan) has informed me of the appointment," said Jayakumar. He views the post not as a challenge but as "a great opportunity". "My priority will be to ensure a smooth pilgrimage season. The Travancore Devaswom Board's headquarters is not Sabarimala, but because of the issues that have arisen there, people have different concerns. It is important to reassure everyone that things are in order and to safeguard the faith of devotees. I must also uphold the trust that the government has placed in me,” said Jayakumar soon after he was appointed TDB President.

A veteran bureaucrat and noted cultural figure, Jayakumar enjoys broad goodwill across political lines, having served in key administrative positions under both the Left and UDF governments. Even after retirement, he continues to hold influential posts, including as Director of the Institute of Management in Government (IMG), Kerala’s leading civil service training institution.

Jayakumar’s familiarity with Sabarimala affairs is expected to help him steer the Board through the current turbulence. He has previously served in critical roles related to the temple’s management and was part of a high-powered committee overseeing pilgrimage operations.

The 73-year-old former bureaucrat, son of veteran filmmaker M Krishnan Nair, is also a poet, lyricist, and screenwriter. After retiring as Chief Secretary in 2012, he became the first Vice-Chancellor of Malayalam University during the Oommen Chandy government.

His appointment marks a departure from convention, as top positions in the Devaswom Board are typically filled by political nominees. The move underscores the government’s intent to restore administrative integrity and public confidence in the Board, ahead of the upcoming Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season.

IANS