Caste Should Not Be A Barrier: Priest Moves Kerala High Court Against Criteria For Appointing Melshanti At Sabarimala Temple
3 years, 8 months ago

Caste Should Not Be A Barrier: Priest Moves Kerala High Court Against Criteria For Appointing Melshanti At Sabarimala Temple

Live Law  

A plea has been filed before the Kerala High Court challenging a notification issued by the Travancore Devaswom Board calling for applications for the post of Melshanti at the Sabarimala Dharmasastha Temple on the ground that it only invited individuals from a particular caste to apply for the post. He filed the petition aggrieved by the notification dated 27th May 2021 calling for applications to the post of Santhikkaran at Sabarimala Dharmasastha Temple and Malikappuram Temple issued by the Travancore Devaswom Board, from among Malayala Brahmin community members alone. According to the petitioner, he is fully qualified for the post and eligible to be appointed to the post of Melshanti at the Sabarimala Dharmasastha Temple except for the requirement of being a "Malayala Brahmin". Reliance was also placed on Adithayan v. Travancore Devaswom Board where the Apex Court observed that caste is no barrier for a person to become a priest in the temple administered by the Board.

Board Constitution Court Kerala High Court Sabarimala Post Temple Petitioner Notification Devaswom Travancore Malayala Brahmin Malikappuram Temple Sabarimala Dharmasastha Temple Vishnunarayanan Cv Melshanti  melshanti  post  board  high  devaswom  petitioner  sabarimala  criteria  kerala  notification  moves  caste  temple  travancore  priest  court

History of this topic

Caste Discrimination In Kerala Temple? Govt Vows Action Amid Row Over 'Kazhakam' Appointment
1 week, 2 days ago

Caste Discrimination In Kerala Temple? Govt Vows Action Amid Row Over 'Kazhakam' Appointment

ABP News  

The Kerala government has pledged to investigate a recent incident of alleged caste discrimination at the historic Koodalmanikyam Temple in Thrissur district. Government’s Response Kerala Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan clarified that it was the Cochin Devaswom administrator, not the board chairman, who reassigned Balu. He also alleged that a purification ritual was conducted after Balu left the temple, calling …

‘Courts can’t support perpetuation of caste’: Madras High Court
1 month, 1 week ago

‘Courts can’t support perpetuation of caste’: Madras High Court

New Indian Express  

CHENNAI: Commenting that the scourge of caste system creates division in society, leads to discrimination and violence, besides affecting growth, the Madras High Court has deplored the sections of society that are “yet to shed this unwanted baggage” even 75 years after the Constitution came into force. Anything towards perpetuation of caste can never be considered by any court of …

Supreme Court tells Tamil Nadu to detail temple trustee committee appointment plan
3 months, 1 week ago

Supreme Court tells Tamil Nadu to detail temple trustee committee appointment plan

India Today  

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Tamil Nadu government to submit an affidavit detailing its proposed actions for appointing the "Arangavalar Committee" in the state’s Hindu temples. The plea, filed by the "Hindu Dharma Parishad”, suggested a trustee committee with diverse representation, including a retired judge, a social activist, devotees, women, and scheduled caste members. The Hindu Dharma Parishad …

No Hindu Can Claim That They Want To Personally Perform Services Which Archakas Alone Can Perform: Kerala High Court
1 year ago

No Hindu Can Claim That They Want To Personally Perform Services Which Archakas Alone Can Perform: Kerala High Court

Live Law  

The Kerala High Court dismissed a batch of petitions challenging the notification issued by the Devaswom Commissioner of the Travancore Devaswom Board for the years 2017-18, 2021-22 for appointment of Melsanthies of Sabarimala Devaswom and Malikappuram Devaswom. The Division Bench comprising Justice Anil K Narendran and Justice P G Ajithkumar relying upon the Apex Court decision in Sri Venkataramana Devaru …

Kerala High Court Issues Directions To Ensure Fairness In Selection Of Melsanthies Of Sabarimala, Malikappuram Temples
1 year, 5 months ago

Kerala High Court Issues Directions To Ensure Fairness In Selection Of Melsanthies Of Sabarimala, Malikappuram Temples

Live Law  

The Kerala High Court recently issued a slew of directions to be followed while appointing the Melsanthies of Sabarimala and Malikapuram Temple for the period 2023-2024 in a suo moto case registered to ensure fairness, transparency and adherence to the interview guidelines for shortlisting candidates. By the order dated 06.09.2011, the Apex Court disposed of Civil Appeal No.2570-71 of 2003 …

Caste Has No Role To Play In Appointment Of Temple Priests: Madras High Court
1 year, 8 months ago

Caste Has No Role To Play In Appointment Of Temple Priests: Madras High Court

Live Law  

The Madras High Court has reiterated that while appointing Archakas to a temple, the caste has no role to play when the person otherwise fulfills all the requirements. He also submitted that as per an order made by the division bench of the Madras High Court in All India Adi Saiva Sivachariargal Seva Sangam's case, a committee has to be …

Sabarimala Shrine Gets New Chief Priest
2 years, 5 months ago

Sabarimala Shrine Gets New Chief Priest

News 18  

K Jayaraman Namboothiri was on Tuesday appointed as the new ‘melsanthi’ of the famed Lord Ayyappa Temple here for one year from November 16, when the annual pilgrimage season commences here. Both of them were selected to the auspicious position through a draw of lots held in front of the ‘sreekovil’ of the hillock temple, located in Pathanamthitta district of …

Can't Make A Hasty Decision In The Matter: Kerala High Court Refuses To Stay Appointment Of Melshanti At Sabarimala Temple
3 years, 7 months ago

Can't Make A Hasty Decision In The Matter: Kerala High Court Refuses To Stay Appointment Of Melshanti At Sabarimala Temple

Live Law  

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday refused to stay the notification issued by the Travancore Devaswom Board calling for applications to the post of Melshanti at the Sabarimala Temple only from Malayala Brahmins. The notification issued by the Travancore Devaswom Board inviting applications for the posts of Sabarimala and Malikappuram Melsanthis stipulated that the applicants must be from the Malayala …

In a Historic First, Travancore Devaswom Board Decides to Appoint ST Priest
4 years, 4 months ago

In a Historic First, Travancore Devaswom Board Decides to Appoint ST Priest

News 18  

In a first, the Travancore Devaswom Board has decided to appoint a person from the Scheduled Tribe community as a temple priest. This time, 18 persons from Scheduled Caste and one person from Scheduled Tribe communities will be recommended for the appointment as part-time priests in Travancore Devaswam Board. Kerala Devaswam Minister Kadakampally Surendran said in a Facebook post that …

Jayarajan Potti to be new Sabarimala Melsanthi
4 years, 5 months ago

Jayarajan Potti to be new Sabarimala Melsanthi

The Hindu  

Jayaraj Potty has been appointed as the new Melsanthi of Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple He is a member of Pooppathy Varikkatt Madom of Kodungallur. He will be the Melsanthi in Sabarimala for for one year from November 16, when the Mandala Puja season commences. The selections were made by drawing lots from a panel of priests shortlisted after interviews conducted …

Priests can't deny religious rights to Dalits, tribals: Uttarakhand HC
6 years, 8 months ago

Priests can't deny religious rights to Dalits, tribals: Uttarakhand HC

Deccan Chronicle  

Nainital: No priest can bar devotees belonging to the scheduled caste or scheduled tribe sections from performing worship at a temple, the Uttarakhand High Court held on Thursday. The court of Justice Rajiv Sharma issued the order while hearing a petition on the rights of people belonging to SC/ST categories to visit temples and perform religious activities. It was said …

Non-Brahmin Sabari priests after consensus: Kadakampally Surendran
7 years, 5 months ago

Non-Brahmin Sabari priests after consensus: Kadakampally Surendran

Deccan Chronicle  

ALAPPUZHA: The appointment of non-Brahmins as priests in the Sabarimala temple would be considered only after reaching a consensus at the social and legal level, according to Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran. It may be recalled that he had termed the recent appointment of 39 non-Brahmin priests, including six dalits, in the Travancore Devaswom Board temples as a silent revolution. He …

'Periyar's dream realised': Kamal Haasan hails Pinarayi Vijayan over appointment of non-Brahmin priests in Kerala
7 years, 5 months ago

'Periyar's dream realised': Kamal Haasan hails Pinarayi Vijayan over appointment of non-Brahmin priests in Kerala

Firstpost  

Kamal Haasan hails Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan for appointing 36 non-Brahmin priests to serve in temples Chennai: Actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan on Monday hailed Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan for appointing 36 non-Brahmin priests to serve in temples administered by the Travancore Devaswom board. Salute to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for appointing 36 non-Brahmin priests. Bravo Travancore Dewasom board.Salute …

Kerala law secretary BG Hareendranath approves action in non-Brahmin priest row
7 years, 6 months ago

Kerala law secretary BG Hareendranath approves action in non-Brahmin priest row

Deccan Chronicle  

Alappuzha: The law secretary B.G. Hareendranath has recommended contempt of court proceedings against Devaswom commissioner C. P. Ramaraja Prema Prasad who shelved the transfer of a non-Brahmin priest to Chettikulangara temple. The law secretary asked Travancore Devaswom Board to appoint S. Sudhikumar, the victim of caste discrimination, at the Chettikulangara temple itself as Keezhsaanthi. Mr Hareendranath said the commissioner's order …

TDB seeks report on priest row
7 years, 7 months ago

TDB seeks report on priest row

Deccan Chronicle  

Alaoouzha: The Travancore Devaswom Board has taken note of the caste discrimination by Hindu Matha Convention at Chettikulangara temple. TDB president Prayar Gopalakrishnan said he had sought a report from Devaswom Commissioner on the shifting out of a non-Brahmin priest. The DC report “Temple stonewalls non-Brahmin priest” on July 16 had triggered public outrage against the RSS-backed group, and the …

Duty and the Priest: A legal barrier?
9 years, 3 months ago

Duty and the Priest: A legal barrier?

The Hindu  

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that appointment of archakas in Tamil Nadu temples should be done as per the restrictions prescribed by the age-old Agamas, upturning the amendments to the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious Endowments Act put in place by the then DMK government in Tamil Nadu in 1971. Agamas in Sanskrit mean “that which has come to us.” …

Damodaran Potti new Sabarimala Melsanthi
12 years, 5 months ago

Damodaran Potti new Sabarimala Melsanthi

The Hindu  

N. Damodaran Potti, 47, of Vaikom in Kottayam district will be the new head priest at Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala for the one-year period beginning November 16, first day in the month of Vrischikom in the Malayalam calendar. Selection of the two new head priests was made through a draw of lots held at the respective temple sopanam immediately …

Discover Related