Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Bill to amend TCHRI Act soon

N.J. Nair

Aimed at increasing transparency of TDB administration

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A Bill empowering the Government to enhance the strength of the Travancore Devaswom Board from three to nine and handover the appointment of administrative and ministerial staff to the Public Service Commission is likely to be piloted in the Assembly session scheduled to begin on December 29.

Since the board comes under the ambit of the Travancore Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions (TCHRI) Act, the Government had to amend the Act by piloting the Bill to increase the number of members and make drastic changes in the existing administrative system. The Bill to amend the TCHRI Act was aimed at increasing transparency and efficiency of the administration of the board and make it more accountable to the public.

Official sources said the provisions in the draft Bill were almost similar to those which were drafted by the former UDF Government.

Nine-member board

As per the provisions of the draft Bill, the new board would have nine members of which two would be reserved for women and one for Scheduled Castes. The tenure of the board would be four years.

The amendment would give more powers to the Government to take corrective steps and also reverse decisions taken by the members, which it deemed improper and against the interests of the board.

The Government would have the authority to hear appeals on charges of corruption or misbehaviour levelled against board members. But the Government would not interfere with the rites and rituals being followed in temples. The Government authority would be restricted to administrative matters of the board, sources said.

The Public Service Commission would recruit only Hindus and those who have faith in temple worship.

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