Devaswom Ordinanace a milestone: Minister

Kannur, Feb 4 (UNI) Kerala Cooperation and Devaswom Minister G Sudhakaran today said the recent Ordinance promulgated after taking the High Court into confidence, dissolving the Travancore and Cochin Devaswom Boards was a milestone since the historic Temple Entry Proclamation.

Inaugurating a seminar on 'Malabar Devaswom Board- its Necessity and Limitations', he expressed the hope that the Court would extend its full support and cooperation.

The High Court had observed during an investigation on corruption in the Travancore and Cochin Devaswom Boards that basic changes were required in the Act governing the Boards, the Minister said.

Asserting that the government would not in any way interfere with temple customs and its internal activities, he said the government's aim was to protect the interests of devotees as well as to prevent looting of temple assets.

However, the government would not hesitate to constitute a Judicial Commission if corruption was found in the boards, he warned.

UNI