THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has termed illegal the Travancore Devaswom Board’s (TDB) decision to stall the transfer of a non-Brahmin priest to Chettikulangara Devi temple following opposition from the temple head priest and a Hindu outfit.
Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran, also vowed strict action against the Devaswom Commissioner for issuing such a ‘retrograde’ order. The commissioner’s decision was a violation of the Supreme Court’s order barring caste as a criterion in the appointment of priests, he said. “The TDB move to restore untouchability on grounds of implementing temple customs is quite shameful,” Kadakampally said.