TN: Cabinet issues GO for non-brahmin priests

Chennai, May 16: The Tamil Nadu Cabinet today decided to issue a Government Order (GO) to make people from all castes to become archakas (priests) in temples, marking the fulfillment of DMK's yet another poll promise.

Chaired by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, the first cabinet meeting of the new government, which met here today, gave its nod for making people of all castes to become archakas, provided they had the requisite training and qualification.

The DMK, in its election manifesto had promised to give opportunity ''to all the trained persons from all castes to act as archakas in the temples.'' In a resolution adopted at the meeting, the cabinet said the decision would fulfill rationalist leader Periyar E V Ramasamy's one of the long pending desire.

As per the Supreme court's 2002 order and after having obtained the opinion of the Law department and legal opinion of the Advocate General, the GO would be issued, the resolution said.

In another resolution, proposed by Finance Minister K Anbazhagan and seconded by Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy, the cabinet praised Mr Karunanidhi for his 'historic tryitm' as Chief Minister for a record fifth time.

UNI