Kochi, Oct 7 A candidate disqualified by the Travancore Devaswom Board from participating in the selection of 'melsanthis' of Sabarimala Sree Dharmasatha temple and Malikappuram Temple, has been allowed by the Kerala High Court to take part in the interview process.
A bench of justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar issueed an interim order allowing 56-year-old Rajeev M P to provisionally take part in the interview to be conducted on October 7 for selecting the melsanthis (head priests) for the Sabarimala-Malikappuram Devaswoms this year.
"It is made clear that the above direction shall be subject to the final orders to be passed by this court in matters concerning the selection to the post of melshantis to Sabarimala-Malikappuram Devaswoms, for the year 1202 ME (Malayalam Era) (2026-27)," the bench said.
It listed the matter for hearing on November 2.
The petitioner, Rajeev, has sought directions to the Board to allow him to participate in the selection process for appointment of melsanthi of Sabarimala Sree Dharmasatha temple and Malikappuram Temple.
He has contended that he satisfies the conditions stipulated in the notification and guidelines issues by the Board.
He also told the court that he had earlier fulfilled the eligibility criteria and was included in the list of candidates for the selection process to the post of melsanthi, Sabarimala-Malikappuram Devaswoms, for the year 1201 ME.
After hearing the arguments, the court said that in view of the facts and circumstances of the case and the records made available by the petitioner, he has made out a case for grant of an interim order.
"In that view of the matter, there shall be a direction to the respondent Nos. 1 (Board) and 2 (Devaswom Commissioner) to permit the petitioner also to participate, provisionally, in the interview for selection to the post of melsanthi, Sabarimala-Malikappuram Devaswoms, for the year 1202 ME (2026-27), proposed to be conducted on October 7, 2026," the bench said.
