Kozhikode, Oct 2 (IANS) Marxist member K. Gopalakrishnan will head the newly constituted Malabar Devaswom Board, which will administer all temples in north Kerala.
Gopalakrishnan was nominated by the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).
Six members of the nine-member board are nominated by Hindu ministers in the state cabinet, while three others are nominated by Hindu legislators.
Around 1,600 temples in the northern districts from Palakkad to Kasargod and parts of Thrissur will come under the administrative control of the new
board.
With the formation of the board, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department which is currently administering these temples will cease to exist. All the employees under the department will be absorbed in service by the board.
Addressing the function, Kerala Devaswom Minister G. Sudhakaran said that around 25,000 acres belonging to various temples in Malabar region had gone out of the control of the temples due to mismanagement.
“The new board will take back this land and some people are opposing this. It is these people who are against the constitution of the board,” the minister added.
He said the new board will ensure better working conditions for the temple workers.
Kerala already has devaswom boards to administer temples in south Kerala and in Kochi region.