Koodalmanikyam temple row: staffer says he is not interested in ‘Kazhakam’ duties any more

The controversy over a ‘Kazhakam’ staffer at the Koodalmanikyam temple allegedly facing caste discrimination has now reached the government’s doorstep with the staffer Balu B.A. stating that he is not interested in continuing the duty.

However, Koodalmanikyam Devaswom chairman C.K. Gopi said that Mr. Balu would be allowed to continue his duty as a “Kazhakam” staffer.

The Devaswom clarified that Mr. Balu could not be appointed to any other position at the temple. If he requested a transfer, it would be forwarded to the government for review.

Mr. Balu, who expressed his reservations, confirmed that he would send a letter to the Devaswom authorities, formally stating his decision not to join the ‘Kazhakam’ duty. He said that he did not want any further issues at the temple in his name.

“I made this decision together with my family. I wasn’t aware that the priests had boycotted me until I was assigned new duties in the work arrangement. I never had a chance to meet with the Thantris,” Mr. Balu explained.

‘Difficulties likely’

He mentioned that with the festival season approaching, the priests would be continuously involved in ceremonies, and if they continued this approach, it would cause him difficulties. He thanked everyone who supported him.

In a statement, the Koodalmanikyam temple priests rejected the caste discrimination allegations. Nedumpilly Tharananelloor Govindan Namboodiripad, representative of the priests on the Devaswom board, clarified that the appointment of Mr. Balu as a “Kazhakam” worker on February 24 violated Devaswom regulations. According to him, both the Koodalmanikyam temple administration and the Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board acted in ways that contradicted the temple’s established norms. He said the temple had wrongfully terminated an individual who had served in the position for five years without offering proper notice, which had drawn criticism from both priests and devotees.

Mr. Govindan Namboodiripad also accused certain parties with vested interests of spreading malicious propaganda to sow division among devotees. He condemned the false campaigns around caste discrimination, asserting that they were only fuelling discord and misunderstanding.