Breach of faith: Kerala govt omits 'chief must be Hindu' clause in Travancore Hindu Institution Act | Photo Credit: Times Now

New Delhi: A bill was passed by the Kerala Assembly that has caused upheaval in the religious spectrum of the state. The state government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan passed a bill for an amendment of the Travancore Hindu Institution Act, where the clause that a Hindu must be the head of the Devaswom Temple Trust has been omitted.

The Travancore Devaswom Board has termed the notification as contrary to the law and ignorant in nature. The Kerala government has passed a bill to amend the act and it omitted a clause that said that the “the temple trust commissioner should be a Hindu”. Another provision in the bill said that all the Board’s staff should be Hindu.

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The Devaswom law came out and said the chief has to be a part of the Hindu panel. When Kerala government was cornered and asked about it, it said the omission was an “error” and have promised redressal. Admitting the error, the government has directed the law department to rectify the Hindu omission.

Chairman of Devswom Board Recruitment Rajagopalan Nair told Times Now, “It's purely out of ignorance and confusion. It's just two words that are misunderstood. Devaswom commissioner can be elected only by the department which consists only Hindus and he himself should be part of it. Also, section 29(1) clearly mentions it.”

He also said, there is no question that is arising that a Devasom commissioner who is appointed either by the board directly or through deputation becomes a Non-Hindu.

