Ordinance dissolving Devaswom Boards comes into effect

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 4 (UNI) The Ordinance dissolving the Travancore and Cochin Devaswom Boards came into effect today with Governor R L Bhatia signing it.

The Hindu Aikyavedi, the apex body of several Hindu organisations, has called for tomorrow to be observed as 'black day' in protest against the Ordinance, which it alleged, would destroy the autonomy of Boards.

The State Cabinet, which met on January 31, had cleared the Ordinance which amends the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act, reducing the Boards' tenure from the present four to two years and also providing representation to women and SC/STs.

Meanwhile, in a statement at Cherukolpuzha, near Pathanamthitta, Hindu Aikyavedi general secretary Kummanam Rajasekharan called for a state-wide agitation against the Ordinance which, he said, was detrimental to the very existence of hundreds of temples in the state.

Pointing out that the Ordinance negated religious freedom, right to worship and right to temple administration, Mr Rajasekharan said the Aikyavedi would observe tomorrow as a 'black day' in protest against it.

He alleged that the Ordinance gave powers to the secular government to interfere with the internal affairs of religious institutions and also deprived Devaswom Boards of their autonomy.

UNI