KOCHI: At a time when gender discrimination is a hot topic of debate, female members of the Cochin Royal Family on Monday approached the Kerala High Court seeking to end gender discrimination.
They sought a directive to include women as trustees of the Palace Administration Board.
The petition was filed by ten members of the royal family, including 85-year-old Kochammani Thampuratti. They sought a directive to set aside a royal proclamation that the Board shall consist of five trustees nominated from the male members of the family, so as to ensure representation each of the four main ‘thaivazhis’ of the family, as far as possible.
The petitioners pointed out that the Maharaja of Cochin had made a royal proclamation on June 29, 1949, for the administration, management and conservation of the properties of the palace.
“The provision violates Articles-14,15,16 and 19 of the Constitution of India, and hence requires to be declared as void,” they alleged.
“Before the constitutional merger of Travancore and Cochin, the then Maharaja had issued the proclamation to provide for the impartial administration, management and conservation of family properties.
The Palace Administration Board has been vested with the power and responsibility to do the same. The provisions are obsolete and not representing the intentions of the family,” they submitted.