HC orders special panel for assistant appointments

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has directed the formation of a special panel for the appointment of Melshanti (chief priests) of Sabarimala and Malikappuram, and the assistants of the Kazhakam and Ulkazhakam staff. The court said that the existing practice of Melshanti appointing assistants of their choice should be stopped.
The court directed that priests from other temples can also be considered for inclusion in the panel. It said that only honest individuals should be included, and reports from the Devaswom Vigilance and the police Special Branch should be obtained before making appointments. These directions were issued by the Devaswom Bench of Justices V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and K.V. Jayakumar. The order was passed while disposing of a suo motu case taken up by the court based on a report submitted by the Special Commissioner. This report was submitted in the context of the Sabarimala gold theft case, in which Unnikrishnan Potti, who was allegedly appointed as an assistant, was involved.
The court observed that in the past, people with criminal backgrounds had also been appointed as assistants. It said that appointing people without proper verification and at low wages in a major pilgrimage center like Sabarimala is dangerous. Until now, the Sabarimala Melshanti was allowed to appoint up to 35 assistants and the Malikappuram Melshanti up to 10 assistants. Ten assistants were allowed in Ulkazhakam and six in Kazhakam. The court said that at least four of the Melshanti’s assistants should be experienced, and there should also be two experienced Keezhshanti (junior priests). The Devaswom Board currently pays a daily wage of Rs 450 each to 24 assistants of the Sabarimala Melshanti and 10 assistants of the Malikappuram Melshanti.
Assistants in Ulkazhakam are paid Rs 250 per day. If more assistants are appointed than the sanctioned number, the Melshanti will have to pay their salaries themselves. Police clearance has been made mandatory. The Travancore Devaswom Board informed the court that police clearance certificates and identity cards have now been made mandatory for all assistants. The respective head priests will be fully responsible for their assistants. The entry of assistants into the sanctum sanctorum is also being strictly recorded.