ISSUES IN TEMPLE ADMINISTRATION IN KERALA

ISSUES IN TEMPLE ADMINISTRATION IN KERALA

                                                                                P.K.RAJAGOPAL*

Introduction

The objective of this paper is to analyses major issues in the area of temple administration and examines how far it is detrimental to the development of temples in Kerala.Today temples in Kerala faces several issues ,they are political and economic rather than spiritual. Politicisation of temple administration is and its impact on the temple administration is also analysed in this study

Temples occupy a unique place in the history of kerala.They are the cultural fountain of Hindu religion. Temples exercised enormous influence in society immemorial. There is an ongoing debate in Kerala over the management of Hindu temples. In Kerala temples are the centres of art, culture and learning. Kerala is famous fr social reform movements and other political movements associated with temples. Hindu temples in the state were mostly under the management of private bodies known as Oorallers or Kariakkars.In course of time the temples, particularly major temples, came to possess immense wealth contributed by devotees which included rulers ,administrators, and the public. The managers of temples enacted rules and customs for temple administration, basically favourable to them and not for the benefit of temples. The state did not interfere in the internal management of temples. Temples were autonomous institutions and constituted a peculiar position to that of the clergy of the catholic church of the middle Ages. Corruption and mismanagement prevailed in their administration. All these led rulers to assume the management of devaswom by virtue of their inherent melkoima right as the spiritual head of the state.

                          The British took keen interest in the control of the administration of temples inthe beginning of nineteenth century. In 1811 col.Munro ,the devan of Travancore,decided that  the government would take over the administration of Hindu temples along with their properties.(TK VELUPILLAI,TSM VOL IV P559) The assumption of temples by Munro is a major landmark in the history of temple administration. The major criticism leveled against Munor’s action was that he transferred income from temples for proselytisation  activities.(Sadasivan sn party and democracy in india,p205) Initially separate accounts were maintained for temples taken over by the Government. After a short span of period it became difficult to separate revenue of temple lands with Government lands. Thus temples lost their properties and income and they had to depend on the mercy of the Government for their survival. In course of time large number of private temples was taken over on the basis of HRERegulation act of 1904, which empowered the state to intervene in the affairs of temples whenever deemed necessary. Krishna Ayyangar committee appointed  by Travancore government in 1919 recommended to the formation of separate devaswom department under the direct supervision of the government.(Suresh kumar,political evoln Kerala p108)  In 1922 on the basis of devaswom separation committee report separate devaswom department was created  for temple management.(the Travancore directory,1939,part II,p.359.) After attaining Independence and the introduction of constitutional changes Devaswom Department was separated from the effective control of the state. When the Travancore and Cochin states were integrated on 1^st July 1949  the administrative control of Devaswoms was vested with Travancore Devaswom and Cochin Devaswom Boards,in pursuance of the articles of the Covenant and  provisions of TCHRE Act of 1950.The temples in Malabar area were governed by HR&CE Department on the basis of Madras HRCE Act of 1951.Guruvayoor temple is governed by separate Devaswom committee as per the provisions of Guruvayoor Devaswom Act of 1978.Malabar Devaswom board was constituted by Kerala government as per the directions of honourable high court of Kerala.

The state Government never interferes in the affairs of the churches and mosques. But the Government periodically interferes in the day to day affairs of Hindu temples.(hindu-blog.com/2007/07) There is nothing wrong in government looking after the administration of temples provided that wealth of the temples is used for the betterment of the Hindu society.

      Politics in temple Administration

Most of the problems faced by the temples in Kerala are political and economic rather than spiritual. The temple administration today faces numerous problems. Political interference over temple administration is the first and foremost issue. Mismanagement of funds raised through contributions from devotees by politically appointed authorities is a major issue. Problems relating to the welfare of employees and devotees and shortage of finance are another issue. Majority of the Hindu temples are finding it hard to perform daily rituals. During the past fifteen years numerous temples in Kerala were renovated by the devotees. The support from the government was marginal. Mismanagement, favouritism, misappropriation of funds etc are prevailing in temple administration. The Devaswom minister himself has admitted that corruption is the objective of the politicians, whether belonging to the left, right or centre. The misuse of temple funds corruption in administration, pathetic condition of temples, governmental discrimination towards major temples etc were frequently criticized by the High Court of Kerala.

Temples in modern Kerala are administered by politically appointed devaswom boards. In recent times a controversy emerged in state politics over the issue of state control of temples in a secular state. There are several problems which affect the administration of temples in Kerala. Corruption, shortage of finance, lack of uniform law, politicization of administration, trade unionism is prominent among them. After the state re-organization new district and taluks   were formed in the state, however, the old concepts of Malabar, Cochin and Travancore still persist in our devaswom statutes. Unfortunately there is no specific steps were taken for making uniform law except appointing two commissions for this purpose.  In 1961 Kuttikrishna Menon Committee was appointed. He submitted his report in1963, no action was taken on it .Again in 1982 Hindu organizations organized a Raj bhavan march and a mass memorandum signed by 25 lakhs devotees was submitted under the leadership of swami Chinmayananda to the Governor demanding non politicizing devaswoms, enhancement of annual grant to devaswoms, barring diversion of temple fund for non devotional purposes, renovation of temples,etc. The petition urged the government to make special laws for emancipation of temples from the control of politicians.(manorama.1-7-1988)The Government appointed a devaswom reform commission P.Sankaran Nair commission in 1983.He submitted his report in 1984 to the Government. This report is also lying in the cold storage of the secretariat. In 1990 a division bench of Kerala High Court ,fully realizing the improper and inefficient administration in two leading devawom boards appointed three member high power commission headed by V.Ramachandran,former chief secretary of Kerala. In 1994, Kerala high court directed to the state Government for a uniform law for temple administration. RSS in1989 submitted a representation to the government seeking a unified devaswom law,that will help to streamline of the temples in general which are now having different characteristics and mode of functioning by providing a common administrative set up.(IE 27-2-1989)

                      Politicization of devaswom administration is another issue in devaswom administration. Temples in Kerala becomes the play ground for politics with successive governments. Temples in Kerala often become the playground for politics with successive governments. Temple assets are often mismanaged and temples are hotbeds of maladministration. In Kerala, ministers are involved in temple administration and the state government, through legislation, has taken over the administration of temples. The misappropriation of funds, maladministration and such other defects in parochial politics has affected the day to day affairs of Hindu temples. Healthy growth of a secular state religious freedom with non political interference is inevitable. It is a grave injustice to the Hindu community that the secular state makes temple platform for political clashes and pressure game politics. It is interesting to note that the religious places of other organizised religion are free from such political control. Hindu MLA, s and ministers play a very critical role in the formation of devasom Boards.Even non –believers or those who have no faith in God and temple worship also participate in the election process. Various Hindu organizations in the state raised their objection against politicization. High Court of Kerala several time criticized the government policy of political appointment in devaswom boards. In 1982 the Vishal Hindu sammelan demanded liberation of temples from politics. The vishal Hindu sammelan can be considered as the forerunner of the Hindu front in Kerala. (K jayaprasad rss, p.236)

                         KP Sankaran Nair Commission and High Power committee report recommended depoiticisation in temple administration.VHP then organizing secretary Kummanam Rajasekharan stated that while other religions have the right to administer their religious institutions, it is discriminatory to deny that to the Hindus. The government has thrown to the winds the High Court directive that political interference should not be allowed in temples and the recommendations of kuttykrishna menon and sankaran nair commission (Hindu 21-2-1999) Ashok Singhal, all india secretary of VHP, stated that if politicians were allowed to control the affairs of the temples the customs and traditions of the Hindus would be thrown to the winds. (IE, 16-7-1988).A division bench of Kerala High Court appointed a three member high level team to probe corruption charges against TDB that runs temples including Sabarimala temple.Justice Paripoornan Commission urged the government to facilitate complete de politicization in temple administration and mooted for separate administrative body for sabarimala temple.The justice Chandrashekhara Menon Commission,which had inquired in to the pampa hill top tragedy some years ago, had mooted an independent administrative body for hill shine sabarimala.

DEVASWOM LEGISLATIONS IN STATE POLITICS SINCE 1956.

The concept and regulations governing of Hindu MLAs and ministers in the formulation of devaswom boards is ironical. Critically speaking, it is contradictory to the very principles of Secularism.  The contribution of the rulers and activist who opened the temples to all worshippers through ‘Temple Entry Proclamation’ should again work to see that the temple administration is managed by the Hindus. No society is free and no state is democratic unless rights in widest community spread are achieved by every citizen. It is the need of the hour to examine critically the so-called concept of ‘Hindu MLAs’ in a secular state. Hon’ble High Court of Kerala pronounced that faith in God and temple worship alone makes a Hindu MLA competent to take part in the election of members to Devaswom Boards. However there are complaints that non believers are nominated to devaswom boards. Moreover among the Hindu MLAs’ there are few who do not have faith in god and temple worship. Hindu MLAs and Ministers play a very critical role in the formation of Devaswom Boards in Kerala. Travancore Devaswom Board and Cochin Devaswom Broads, the two leading Devaswom Boards in the state are composed of 3 members each. Two of them are nominated by Hindu ministers and one member is elect by Hindu MLAs. At the cabinet level, there is a minister for Devaswoms, who is in charge of Devaswom affairs in the state .Political parties make legislations frequently to control the Devaswom Management committees. Even non believers or those who have no faith in God and temple Worship also participate in the election process. The Hon’ble High Court of Kerala pronounced that faith in God and temple worship alone make a ‘Hindu MLA’ competent to take part in the election of members to Devaswom Board.

Serial no	Devaswom Area	Devaswom Act	Devaswom Board
1	Temples in Travancore Area	Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institution Act of 1950	Travancore Devaswom Board
2	Temples in Cochin	TCHRI Act of 1950	Cochin Devaswom Board
3	Malabar Region	Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment(Amendment)Act 2008	Malabar Devaswom Board
4	KoodalManickam Temple	KoodalManikkam Devaswom Act 1971	Koodal Manikkam Devswom
5	Guruvayur Temple	Guruvayur Devaswom Act1978	Guruvayur Devaswom

As a part of politicization of temple administration Government of Kerala introduced two legislations in 1971, one is guruvayur devaswom act and other is Koodalmanickam Devaswom act. Guruvayur Devaswom act was struck down by the High Court of Kerala and criticized the governmental interference on temple administration.(sankaran nair report p.67) Again in 1979 Kerala legislature passed guruvayur devaswom Law  to the administrative control of famous sree Krishna temple.

                     In 1986 congress led government in Kerala made  an amendment in Travancore cochin hindu  religious institution  act for the purpose of limiting voting rights enjoyed by the Hindu MLAs.Accordingly,Hindu MLAs who believe in god and temple worship only should have the right to participate in the election of Devaswom Board members.This is a politically motivated legislation of the UDF Government to create confusion among the majority Hindu MLAs belonged to LDF.Again in 1989 LDF Government made another  controversy by issuing a notification ,which reinstated the voting right of all Hindu MLAs irrespective of their faith in god and temple worship.But the High Court of Kerala nullified this notification,pronouncing that faith in  god and temple worship alone make a Hindu MLA competent to take part in the election of devaswom board members.(k govindan kutty,politics of temple control,ind exp.july19 1990)This was a major setback to the politically motivated endeavour of the leftist.In 1990 LDF Government introduced a controversial Hindu Bill inorder to overcome the court order,which reinstate voting right of all Hindu MLAs including non believers.This controversial bill invited opposition from believers and various hindu organizations in the state.Inspite of all opposition, the government moved this bill and finally succeeded in getting it passed.Again in1991 UDF Government revised the act infavour of believers.

In 1994 in a historic verdict high court of Kerala directed the state government to consider the formation of a unified devvaswom board fo management of temples in Travancore,cochin and Malabar areas and urgently consider the formation of Malabar devaswom board for Malabar temples(hindu 22 july1994).Malabar Devaswom Board was constituted  on the basis of HR&CE (Amendment )Ordinance of 2008.The first Malabar Devaswom Board consisting of 9 members assumed office on October 2^nd 2008.A total of 1600 temples in the districts from Palakkad to Kasargod and parts of Thrissur ,excluding those under  Cochin and Guruvayur Devaswom Boards,come under the direct supervision of MDB. There are more than 5000 temples in the state under the control of devaswom boards.9000 administrative and ministerial staff and4000 connected with internal rituals and customs of the temples.

                                In 1997 LDF Government introduced Kerala Hindu Religious and Charitable Institutions and Endowments Bill to consolidate the laws relating to the administration,supervision and control of Hindu religious institutions in the state.The bill contains provision to tighten the bureaucratic and political control over Hindu religious institutions and empowered the government  to take over the direct administration of any temples not under the control of boards.Again in 1999,the LDF Government made a controversy by introducing an amendment on the principal devaswom act by restoring voting rights of Hindu MLAs.,The bill was challenged in the court by various hindu organizations in the state.The court upholding the amendment and directed the government that nominated members should be believers in god and temple worship.The verdict of the court was a legal victory for the government and a moral victory of believers.From all these it can be convinced that the political parties introduced legislative measures for protecting their own interest, rather than the concern for development of temples. In 2007 G.Sudhakaran, devaswom minister in his written reply to the state assembly said that the government makes timely changes in temple rules to allow all those who believe in Hindu gods to worship in all temples. (rediff.com, rediff news, November 22, 2007).The question of temple entry rights for all believers has been a hotly debated topic since the devaswom minister wrote a letter to guruvayur devaswom authorities to consider the possibility of allowing singer.K.J.Jesudas in to the shrine .While leftist organizations,have been campaigningnfor radical changes in temple customs and rules,hindu organizations have cautioned the government against rushing in to hasty decision on a sensitive issue  like this.

          There is an ongoing debate in Kerala over the issue of temple administration. The debate gained momentum recently with the LDF Government brought ordinances to take over the administration of various temples in Kerala. The latest being the Malabar devaswom act to take over the temples in Malabar region. Another move was for a new devaswom bill for more political control over temple administration.(hindu temples and the kerala state,hindu blog.com)  The state government had to withdraw the controversial devaswom bill due to strong protest from NSS and other Hindu organizations.  Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravisankar said in statement that temple boards should be constituted by spiritual leaders. (newkerala.com)

In 2011 Kerala High Court  directed the government to take over  the  administration  of Sree Padmanabha swami temple  and form a trust in three months, holding that the Travancore royal family have no hereditary rights over the religious places. While all other temples in south Kerala were brought under the control of the TDB, Sree Padmanabha swamy temple alone was allowed to be retained under a special trust under royal family. Temple bringing under the Government control would infringe the covenant entered into by the royal family.Later the Supreme Court issued a stay on the impugned High Court order on a special leave petition filed by royal family.(hindu,3-5-2011)

SABARIMALA TEMPLE

                                                                                                       

Conclusion

Temples in Kerala faces serious challenges.A sort of democratized and centralized administrative set up is prevailing in temple administration today.A decentralized administrative system with the active participation of devotees is a necessary requirement for the development of temples in kerala.The condition of majority temples in kerala are pathetic and miserable.In1994 High Court of Kerala directed to the TDB to prepare every year an estimate on the repairs to be carried out on temple structures.It was painful to note that periodical repairs of the temple structures were not properly carried out.(IE,SEPT8,1994)