THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Giving relief to the state government, Governor P Sathasivam has signed the Ordinance reducing the tenure of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) members from three to two years.
The Governor had earlier refused to sign the ordinance and sought clarification to the Devaswom minister on the urgency to promulgate an ordinance. He also had raised the apprehension whether the removal of the incumbent president just ahead of the Sabarimala pilgrim season would affect the preparations for the season.
Following the Governor raising the concern, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran on Monday had called on the Governor and explained that there is precedence of Government promulgating an ordinance to limit the tenure of the incumbent Board just ahead of the season. He also assured the Governor that the decision to reduce the tenure of the Board members would not affect the preparations for pilgrims’ season at Sabarimala.
Rajbhavan sources told New Indian Express that the ordinance had not been returned as reported in a section of the media.
“In fact, the Governor was asking for a clarification on the ordinance. As the Minister himself had come to clarify his views and stated the Government's position, it had not been returned” sources in the Rajbhavan said.
Opposition UDF and BJP had requested the Governor not to sign the ordinance.