THRISSUR: H S Harigopal, under secretary in general administration department, has been appointed the new administrator of the Guruvayur Devaswom. The government has deputed his services to the Guruvayur Devaswom management committee for one year under the inter-departmental deputation system.
Harigopal is currently serving as the administrative officer in the Directorate of Museums and Zoos. The appointment process was completed based on the decision of the Guruvayur Devaswom managing committee taken on August 22.
As the administrator, Harigopal will oversee the day-to-day administration of the devaswom, coordination among various departments, administrative matters concerning employees and the supervision of activities related to the temple.
The appointment was made after the Devaswom managing committee considered the panel prepared by the government under Section 14(1) of the Guruvayur Devaswom Act, 1978. Harigopal, whose name was included in the panel, was selected by the committee under the same provision.
The government had earlier cancelled the deputation tenure of O B Arunkumar, another under secretary in the general administration department who had been serving as the devaswom administrator, and ordered his return to his parent department.