Date:30/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/30/stories/2008093054390400.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Files on priest selection practice sought

Special Correspondent

KOCHI: A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court, on Monday, ordered the Travancore Devaswom Board to produce files relating to the existing practice of selection of Melsanthis of Sabarimala and Malikappuram temples.

Devaswom Minister G. Sudhakaran has sought a direction to the Board to make the selection on the recommendations of the Paripoornan commission.

The Bench, comprising Justices P.R. Raman and T.R. Ramachandran Nair, gave the oral direction when a report of the Ombudsman for Travancore and Cochin Devaswom Boards came up for hearing.

The commission has recommended that the selection committee should consist of a few former Melsanthis of Sabarimala, some religious heads and a member of the higher judiciary with deep religious knowledge. The selected priest should have 10 years’ experience and should have studied in Tantra Vidyalaya and obtained a certificate.

Order quashed

Justice M.N. Krishnan, on Monday, quashed an order of a court in Thrissur restraining Catholic Syrian Bank from proceeding with a rights issue.