THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The new Devaswom board commissioner will be from outside the board this time. This is because there is no eligible person from the board to become the commissioner.

N Vasu, who would be completing his tenure on Thursday, had been given the permission by the high court to continue as the commissioner for six more weeks.

According to the usual practice, the high court recommends one person from the list of three persons proposed by the government. It was this condition that was bypassed by the government through law.

If the government is not able to find an apt person, the Devaswom board can appoint on deputation an officer from Secretariat who is not below than the rank of Additional Secretary.

Current Commissioner N Vasu had expressed his unwillingness to continue in that post. But the government later sought the permission of the court to allow him continue in that post as new post was getting delayed.