Wed Mar 12 07:47:37 UTC 2025: **Kerala Devaswom Board Under Investigation for Caste Discrimination**
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, March 12, 2025 – The Kerala government is investigating the administrator of the Koodalmanikyam Devaswom Board (KDB) for allegedly discriminating against a temple employee from the Ezhava community, a backward caste. Congress legislator A.P. Anil Kumar brought the issue to the state Assembly, accusing the KDB of violating Article 17 of the Indian Constitution, which abolishes untouchability.
According to Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan, the administrator acted against the law by barring B. Balu, a Kazhakam employee, from the temple premises due to his caste. Mr. Vasavan clarified that neither the KDB chairperson nor the board was aware of the administrator’s actions. While the temple’s tantric collective has the right to nominate one Kazhakam employee, Mr. Balu was appointed to the second post through the Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board (KDRB) following proper procedure.
Mr. Anil Kumar alleges that the KDB’s actions, including a subsequent “ritual cleansing” of the temple, constitute a violation of the Untouchability (Offences) Act 1995. He demanded prosecution of both the KDB and the temple’s tantric collective, highlighting the incident’s contrast to Kerala’s celebration of the centenary of Sree Narayana Guru’s meeting with Mahatma Gandhi. He condemned the persistence of caste prejudice in the state. The investigation into the KDB administrator’s actions is currently underway.
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