By IANS
Kochi : A division bench of the Kerala High Court Thursday directed the infighting-hit Travancore Devasom Board (TDB), which manages temples in south Kerala districts, to ensure that normalcy returns to the board so that devotees are not inconvenienced.
The bench of Justice P.R. Raman was hearing a petition from a devotee that differences between TDB president C.K. Guptan and members P. Narayanan and P.K. Sumathykutty Amma was adversely affecting the smooth functioning of temples and holding of local festivals.
The TDB runs the affairs of close to 1,200 temples.
The last two board meetings ended in a fiasco. During Wednesday’s board meeting, Guptan walked out in a huff mid-way. Guptan, the son-in-law of legendary communist leader E.M.S. Nampoothiripad, has the silent support of State Devasom Minister G. Sudhakaran.
The court also directed the Devasom secretary to list all the important issues that have to be discussed in the board and submit it to the court on Tuesday. It directed the board to see that matters concerning devotees should be given the highest priority and warned it would intervene otherwise.
The difference of opinion between the board members has turned into a headache for the ruling Left Democratic Front.
The squabbling has also affected the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage at the famed Sabarimala temple and prasad distribution. Now with the festival at its fag end, the authorities have not yet managed to ensure the smooth supply of prasad.
Adding to the problem is that five key posts in the board have been lying vacant.