53 'sanyasins' of Sivagiri entitled to vote: Committee

Kochi, Aug 16 (UNI) The Justice K S Paripoornan committee appointed by the Supreme Court has held that 53 ''sanyasins'' were entitled to vote in the Sivagiri Sree Narayana Dharma Sangam Trust election and that the decision of the advisory council that only 41 ''sanyasins'' could vote was illegal, ultra vires and without jurisdiction.

The committee said in its report today that enrolment of 18 ''sanyasins'' as members of the trust was valid and legal. The 18 ''sanyasins'' were enrolled on December 22, 1995 and March 8, 1996.

The committee found that removal of these 18 members, properly admitted, could not be justified. It added that the suspension of six members on January 22, 2006 should be ignored.

The committee stongly recommended that a strict, high-power monitoring committee was required, for the proper, efficient and fair functioning of the trust for the next five to ten years.

The S N Dharma Sangam Trust, Varkala, was formed by the great social reformer Sree Narayana Guru. The approximate value of the trust property at present would be Rs 1000 crore.

The Justice Paripoornan committee said ''it is only a struggle for power and nothing else.'' The ''sanyasins'' had formed groups and were fighting. Trust members were more frequently involved in litigation than propagation of teachings of the Guru. ''This situation should change,'' the committee said.

The Supreme Court had appointed Justice Paripoornan as the appropriate authority to resolve the disputes relating to voters list and supervise the Trust election following a petition from Swamy Prakasanda.

The committee expressed the hope that by the conduct of election, the situation would change.

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