Caste discrimination repeats at Koodalmanikyam temple; second-ranked Ezhava community member excluded, fifth-ranked candidate appointed

KOCHI: Temporary appointment to the fifth-ranked candidate in the rank list and a member of the Warrier community in the post of Kazhakam in Irinjalakuda Koodalmanikyam temple. The Devaswom action is in violation of the High Court order. Justice is being denied to Cherthala native KS Anurag, the second-ranked Ezhava community member who received an advice memo for appointment from the Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board. The Koodalmanikyam Devaswom Administrative Committee is under the control of the Left.

The removal of BA Balu, a member of the Ezhava community who was ranked first, following opposition from the Thantris, was a big controversy. When Balu resigned, the advice memo given to Anurag delayed the sending of the appointment order by two weeks to give the Thantris and others an opportunity to file a case. Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan had stated in the Assembly that Anurag would be appointed immediately after receiving the advice memo, but the Administrative Committee did not pay any attention to it.

Advice memo was given to Anurag when Balu resigned. The appointment order for this advice memo was delayed by two weeks to give an opportunity to the Thantris and others to go to court. Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan had stated in the assembly that the appointment would be made immediately after the advice memo is received, but the governing body did not pay any attention to it.

The High Court had directed the continuation of the status quo in a petition filed by six Thantris and Thekke Variath TV Harikrishnan, who has the right to the hereditary Kazhakam for only two months in a year. The case has been postponed to complete the hearing and give the verdict. Vadakke Variath K.V. Ranjith was temporarily appointed in view of the month of Karkidakam. Ranjith has been tying the garland here since Karkidakam 1. Sopanam sweeper Rajesh Pisharadi is in charge of the Kazhakam duty after B.A. Balu resigned.

Contempt of Court Petition

A notice was issued on a petition filed by Gargyan Sudheer, a native of Irinjalakuda, through Advocate P Babukumar, claiming that the appointment of the fifth-ranked person in the rank list when the High Court had directed to continue the status quo in the post of Kazhagam was contempt of court. Gargyan Sudheer had filed a complaint with the Thrissur Rural SP on June 20 demanding that a criminal case be filed for caste discrimination against the six Thantris who had written to the Devaswom that the performance of temple pujas was futile following the appointment of Balu. No action has been taken on this complaint yet.