Melshanti appointment at Sabarimala and Malikappuram; notice on petition for appointment of non-brahmins

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has ordered to send a notice on the petition filed against the position of the Travancore Devaswom Board that only Malayali Brahmins can be appointed as Melshanti (head priest) of Sabarimala and Malikappuram. The state government, Travancore Devaswom Board and Devaswom Commissioner have to submit their reply by October 25.

The petition was filed by TL Sijith, the Melshanti of Karamukku Sree Chidambara Temple, where pratishta was done by Sree Narayana Guru, and PR Vijeesh, who holds a degree in Sanskrit. The petition demanded that non-Brahmins also be appointed as Melshantis in Sabarimala and Malikappuram. The Kerala High Court had earlier rejected this demand. The petitioners then approached the Supreme Court through Dr G Mohan Gopal, a lawyer and former Vice Chancellor of the Law University.

High Court is wrong

The Travancore Devaswom Board had rejected the petitioners' applications for the Melshanti post at Sabarimala on the grounds that they were not Malayali Brahmins. They then approached the Kerala High Court but the court sided with the Devaswom Board's position. The High Court also upheld the Board's appointment notification inviting only Malayali Brahmins for the post of Sabarimala Melashanti. It was stated in the petition in the Supreme Court that the Kerala High Court has erred in this regard and the Board's position is unconstitutional and follows untouchability.