K.S. Anurag joins Koodalmanikyam temple as Kazhakam worker after prolonged controversy

After months of intense controversy and legal hurdles, K.S. Anurag from Cherthala has officially taken charge as Kazhakam worker at the Koodalmanikyam temple, Irinjalakuda.

Mr. Anurag reported at the Koodalmanikyam devaswom office on Monday, completed the joining formalities, and submitted the consent papers to devaswom administrator G.S. Rajesh before assuming office.

Mr. Anurag, who was previously working as an accountant in a private firm, had been selected to the post by the Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board (KDRB) following the resignation of V.A. Balu, a member of the Ezhava community, who was originally appointed from the rank list. Mr. Anurag, who is also from the Ezhava community, had received the appointment order in April, but could not take charge due to an interim stay order issued by the Kerala High Court. After the court upheld the KDRB’s authority to make the appointment, the devaswom committee convened a meeting and issued an advice memo, enabling Mr. Anurag to join.

Mr. Anurag said he was relieved to finally assume charge after overcoming several obstacles and hoped there would be no further objections. He also expressed hope that he would receive support from all quarters as he begins his duties.

The appointment had drawn stiff resistance from members of the Thanthri families associated with the temple, who argued that the Kazhakam post, responsible for supporting certain ritual duties, was traditionally hereditary and should not be filled through open recruitment.

Higher Education and Social Justice Minister R. Bindu praised the devaswom committee for facilitating Mr. Anurag’s joining, and congratulated him on his appointment. She said the High Court’s intervention in support of the KDRB’s decision upheld the constitutional principles of social justice and equality.

“The temple committee has rightly implemented the social justice framework endorsed by the judiciary by offering full support and protection to a candidate appointed through the devaswom recruitment board,” the Minister said.

‘Letter unfortunate’

Dr. Bindu urged all stakeholders to accept the decision gracefully and without controversy, adding that the letter of dissent submitted by the temple’s Thanthri families to the devaswom committee was unfortunate.

“Caste-based notions about traditional temple occupations are outdated and incompatible with a modern democratic society. Efforts to revive such obsolete ideas are deplorable,” she said.