Koodalmanikyam Kazhagam: Order issued appointing Anurag; Thantri boycotts Devaswom meeting

KOCHI: Ezhava community member Anurag has been appointed as the Kazhakam of the Irinjalakuda Koodalmanikyam temple. The decision of the Koodalmanikyam Devaswom. The High Court on Friday dismissed the petition filed by the Thantris, traditional Kazhakam employees- Thekkevariath Harikrishnan and his family members, questioning Anurag's appointment. Meanwhile, the Thantri representative Nedumpuli Tharananellur Govindan Namboothiripad did not attend the meeting.

The decision to issue the appointment order was unanimously taken at the meeting of the governing body held yesterday morning. The order signed by Administrator GS Radhesh was sent by post yesterday itself. Devaswom Chairman Adv CK Gopi presided over the meeting. The Devaswom Chairman said that the petitioners were unable to prove the arguments raised to block the appointment and that the decision to appoint him was taken after the petition was rejected. Devaswom members Dr Murali Haritham, Raghavan Mulangadan, Adv KG Ajayakumar, VC Prabhakaran and K Bindu also attended.

The Devaswom Recruitment Board sent an advice memo to Anurag on April 8, but the appointment was delayed because the High Court had directed that the status quo be maintained until a decision was made. Anurag was recommended for appointment when Nedumangad native BA Balu, who was initially appointed to this post, resigned following caste discrimination.

The notice, which did not include an agenda, was received on Friday night. I did not attend due to other busy schedules. The Thantris will meet and take a stand.

- Govindan Namboothiripad