Govt to act against Travancore Devaswom Board commissioner

Kerala Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran today said action would be initiated against the Travancore Devaswom Board Commissioner for quashing an order appointing a non-Brahmin as a priest at the famous Chettikulangara Devi Temple.
The posting of S Sudhikumar, a priest from the Ezhava community, at the temple in Alappuzha district ran into trouble after a group of devotees, allegedly backed by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), resisted it.
The minister in a Facebook post said he had directed the Devaswom Department secretary, K R Jyothilal, to "correct" the TDB order that cancelled Sudhikumar's appointment as priest at the temple.
Legal steps would be taken against the TDB Commissioner who cancelled Sudhikumar's appointment, saying he was a non- Brahmin, the minister said.

Sudhikumar had 12 years experience working as priest in over seven major temples in the state, he pointed out.
"Those who want to bring back Chaturvarnya (four fold caste system in the Hindu society) may get upset over such a decision," he added.
The minister also made it clear that denying a person the right to perform poojas as priest only because he was a non-Brahmin cannot be accepted.
Surendran also said Sudhikumar will be in the temple as priest.