THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007, promulgated by the Governor on Sunday, envisages handing over the entire responsibilities connected with the recruitment of staff for the Devaswoms to the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC).

The ordinance, published in the gazette on Monday, says: "All appointments of officers and employees in the administrative service of the [Devaswom] Board, for which direct recruitment is resorted to, shall be made from a select list of candidates furnished by the PSC... "

The ordinance further says that "preferably, a Hindu member of the PSC may discharge the function of conducting interview in the process of selection of candidates for appointments."

The ordinance gives the Government the power to have any allegation of irregularity, corruption, mal-administration or misappropriation of funds by the Devaswom Board inquired into by a commission appointed through a gazette notification. The commission has to be a sitting judge or retired judge of the High Court, who is a Hindu.

The ordinance stipulates the constitution of three standing committees of the Board: one for finance and resource mobilisation, another for works, development and environment, and the still another for establishment and devotional services. The Board itself has to constitute these standing committees, each consisting of two of its members, one of whom will function as chairman of the committee concerned.

The decision of the standing committee has to be unanimous, as far as possible. In the event of any difference of opinion on any subject, the matter has to be referred to the Board for its decision.

The ordinance adds a new clause to the original Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act clearly specifying the duties of the Devaswom Board. The duties cover not only matters relating to the administration of the financial and development affairs of the temples but also those connected with traditional rites being performed in the temples. The Board has to ensure that these are done efficiently.

The ordinance stipulates the number of members in each Devaswom Board as three, all of them Hindus. One of them has to be a woman and one a person belonging to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe.

The woman member and the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe member are to be nominated by the Ministers belonging to the Hindu community.

The other member has to be elected by the Hindu members of the Assembly.

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