Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Bill for PSC appointments to Guruvayur Devaswom soon

Thiruvananthapuram: Devaswom Minister G. Sudhakaran, on Tuesday, said the State government was planning to bring in legislation to hand over Guruvayur Devaswom Board appointments to the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC).

Replying to the debate on the Kerala Public Service Commission (Additional Functions As Respects the Administrative Services Under Devaswom Boards) Bill, 2007 as reported by the Subject Committee, the Minister said the legislation would be initiated at the earliest.

He said that there was nothing ultra vires in so handing over the appointments. The PSC had been conducting the appointments of administrative and ministerial staff in Malabar temples, coming under the Hindu Religious and Endowment Department, for several years now. He said that appointments through the commission would give an opportunity to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe people to get employment in Devaswom Boards.

He said the government’s firm view was that women should be allowed to worship at Sabarimala. Referring to the allegation that the government’s affidavit did not have the Cabinet’s clearance, Mr. Sudhakaran said the matter was within the purview of his department and need no Cabinet clearance. “The Cabinet cannot take a decision on this because of the presence of non-Hindu Ministers in it,” he said.

The Supreme Court viewed the issue seriously and that was why it had referred the matter to a three- member Bench.

“We have enforced the current rules regarding the entry of women in Sabarimala and we feel that the debate on equality should continue,” he said at the end of a lively debate in the house.

The Assembly later passed the Bill by voice vote.

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