Govt issues order appointing K Jayakumar as Travancore Devaswom Board president

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has issued an order appointing former chief secretary K Jayakumar as the president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB). His appointment is for two years. The order will come into effect from Friday. The decision to appoint someone from outside politics as president was taken in the wake of the high court's remarks against the present board president and others in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft. Former minister K Raju has been appointed as devaswom board member.

The CPM state secretariat meeting had earlier assessed that it would be beneficial for someone as experienced as Jayakumar to become the president in the wake of the gold theft controversy. Jayakumar had served as the devaswom commissioner and acting president when the Travancore Devaswom Board was left without a president due to the change in government in the state in 2009. He was the Sabarimala Master Plan Chairman and Sabarimala Special Officer. He has held many posts including tourism secretary and vice chancellor of the University of Malayalam.