Date:04/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/04/stories/2008120454410500.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

TDB refutes Devaswom Ombudsman’s charges

Special Correspondent

Thiruvananthapuram: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has refuted the complaint reportedly made by Devaswom Commissioner P.V. Nalinakshan Nair in a letter to Devaswom Ombudsman R. Bhaskaran which implied that it is out to sabotage the Sabarimala festival by relieving and reverting officials and cancelling deputations made by him for the smooth conduct of the festival without consulting him.

The Secretary of the Board said in a rejoinder issued here on Wednesday that only very few changes were made and that they were done due to administrative necessity. One of them was the relieving of G. Anil Kumar, Assistant Devaswom Commissioner, Thiruvalla who was on duty at Sabarimala by Executive Officer, Sabarimala for misbehaving towards devotees. He was relieved on November 23. He was later suspended by the Board for misconduct and insubordination.

Even if he was not suspended, his services would not have been available at Sabarimala.

Second change

The second change involved the reversion of M. Satheesh Kumar, the junior-most Deputy Devaswom Commissioner, in order to reinstate B. Unnikrishnan, a senior Deputy Devaswom Commissioner who was returning from suspension.

The Secretary contended that these changes were not aimed at causing any inconvenience at Sabarimala.

They had to be done for the effective functioning of the Board. The Secretary asserted that the Board was making all effort for the smooth conduct of the festival.

The Secretary said the Board had not received a copy of Mr. Nair’s letter to the Ombudsman, an added that the Board was prepared to furnish a point by point explanation after receiving the letter.