HC allows appointment of melsanthis to Sabarimala

Kochi, Oct 30 (UNI) The Kerala High Court today permitted the Travancore Devaswom Board to issue appointment letters to people, who were selected as 'melsanthis' of Sabarimala and Malikappuram temples.

Division Bench comprising Justice P R Raman and T R Ramachandran Nair vacated the stay order by which the court had restrained the final appointment of the melsanthis.

Today's order was issued after perusing the Devaswom vigilance report, which stated that there was no disqualification of any person selected for the post of 'melsanthis'. The Devaswom vigilance had inquired into the allegations that there were malpractises in the selection process of 'melsanthis'.

However, the court observed that the existing bylaws regarding their selection were inadequate and stressed the need for 'clear and unambiguous' guidelines for the selection.

All the parties to the proceedings were directed to make their suggestions and also to file draft rules and the court will frame the bylaws for the selection procedure after considering them, the court said.

These directions were made while considering a report filed by Devaswom ombudsman R Bhaskaran pointing out that persons with criminal antecedants had figured in the selection list of 'melsanthis'.

The court will hear the case after two weeks.

UNI XR MA RL AS1813