THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Government has received 1,050 complaints about the Travancore, Cochin, Guruvayur and Koodalmanikkam Devaswom Boards and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment till December, since it assumed office on May 18.

An official note issued by the Ministry for Devaswom said that a majority of the complaints were about the corrupt practices of board presidents, members and officials.

As many as 954 complaints were given by the public and 96 by MLAs. The note said that 25 complaints were referred to the Home Minister and the others for departmental inquiry.

Violation of norms

Complaints against the Cochin Devaswom were mainly about appointments and public works executed in violation of rules and misuse of Devaswom funds. The note said that complaints were still being received against the president, special devaswom commissioner, secretary and deputy commissioner.

Some complainants sought an inquiry into the allegations after shifting the special commissioner and secretary from their posts. There were complaints that appointments to gazetted posts were made on daily wages and promotions given in violation of norms.

Complaints were made against the protection of elephants and the auditing of accounts.

An inquiry was sought into the death of an employee, Vinod. The Devaswom Ministry recommended a probe into the fire that broke out at the Vadakkumnathan temple. Another complaint was about irregularities worth Rs.50 lakh in the maintenance of the Poornathrayeesa temple at Thripunithura.

Complaints against the Travancore Devaswom Board pertained to the Sabarimala temple and the appointments in the board. The files on `annadanam' and procurement of jaggery in Sabarimala were handed over to the Vigilance.

Bribery charges

The complaints that board members and top officials had taken bribe from Rs.1 lakh to Rs.10 lakh for appointments had been referred to the Vigilance.

Supply of hay at Gokulam and disbursal of funds for maintenance in the Guruvayur Devaswom had given way to complaints.

The Government got a suggestion that a person should not be allowed to continue as manager for more than a year. VIP darshan and appointments on daily wages too had come in for complaints, the note said.

Misuse of funds

Complaints against the Koodalmanikkam Devaswom were about misuse of funds by the board members and officials. Complaints had been raised about financial misappropriation by trust board members, executive officers and clerks of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment.

The Government suspended deputy commissioner T.V. Narayanan and executive officer Sai Prasad in the wake of complaints, the note said.

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