Now Reading: Kerala temple worker suspended after daughter’s inter-caste marriage
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Kerala temple worker suspended after daughter’s inter-caste marriage
A 58-year-old temple assistant in Kannur has alleged he was suspended from his duties at the Karivelloor Muchilot Bhagavathi Temple after his daughter married a man from the Pothuval community, which falls…
A 58-year-old temple assistant in Kannur has alleged he was suspended from his duties at the Karivelloor Muchilot Bhagavathi Temple after his daughter married a man from the Pothuval community, which falls under the general category. CV Rajan, a Vaniya community member (OBC in Kerala) who has worked at the temple for 30 years, approached the Malabar Devaswom Board claiming discrimination.
Rajan's daughter married on March 15. He was orally asked to stay away three days before the wedding, and received a show-cause letter on March 21 citing a 'lifestyle deviating from temple customs' and alleged misconduct. The temple issued a formal suspension order on June 15, saying his explanation was unsatisfactory.
Rajan denies the allegations, calling the disciplinary proceedings a pretext. He says no written rule permits suspension over a child's marriage. The Malabar Devaswom Board will hear the case on September 10 at the Deputy Commissioner's office in Kozhikode.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The case echoes past instances where temple authorities in Kerala have penalised employees for inter-caste marriages, often invoking unwritten 'customs'. The Malabar Devaswom Board, which administers hundreds of temples, has the power to reinstate employees or uphold suspension. Under the Kerala Devaswom Act, temple trusts must follow natural justice in disciplinary proceedings. The key point on September 10 will be whether the board finds the temple's 'customs' claim to be a valid ground for suspension or a cover for discrimination. A ruling against the trust could set a precedent for temple workers across the state.
Source: thenewsminute.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
