Eight candidates in temple officer draft list face allegations; Vigilance verification ordered

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Eight people included in the draft list for the appointment of Administrative Officers at major temples under the Travancore Devaswom Board are among those recommended for action by the Devaswom Vigilance Department. Devaswom Board President K. Jayakumar has stopped the proposed appointments without obtaining Vigilance clearance certificates.

The names of these eight individuals appeared in the selection list prepared for Administrative Officer posts at 26 major temples managed by the Devaswom Board. The list was prepared by the office of the Devaswom Commissioner. It is alleged that the officer who recently moved from the Secretariat to the post of Devaswom Commissioner was given misleading information while preparing the list.

During the Board meeting held last Thursday, President K. Jayakumar demanded a Vigilance verification of the candidates included in the list. However, one Board member insisted that the list prepared by the Devaswom Commissioner should be approved. The President made it clear that the list could not be approved without proper verification. Following the disagreement, the Board meeting ended without taking a final decision.

The draft appointment list prepared by the Devaswom Commissioner has now been sent to Devaswom Vigilance SP V. Sunil Kumar for detailed examination. The list reportedly contains names of individuals facing allegations such as misappropriation of money related to elephant processions and those who allegedly returned misused funds only after an audit was expected.