Amid the continuing controversy over the Sabarimala temple gold heist case that has cast a shadow over the Kerala government, former state Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar assumed charge as the president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on Saturday.
At a function held at the TDB headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, Jayakumar took the oath of office in the presence of Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan and other dignitaries. Along with him, former State Forest Minister and veteran CPI leader K. Raju was also sworn in as a member. TDB secretary P.N. Ganeshwaran Potty administered the oath of office to the newly appointed dignitaries.
Speaking soon after taking charge, Jayakumar said the new governing committee must respond to the expectations of devotees.
“If the faith of devotees has been shaken at any point, we will ensure such situations are not repeated and that trust is fully restored. I see this responsibility as the call of the time,” he said.
The term of the board is two years. Jayakumar and Raju took charge after former president P S Prasanth and former member Ajikumar stepped down on November 13.
The appointment of Jayakumar marks a significant departure from past practice, as TDB leadership positions have traditionally been occupied by political appointees. Jayakumar was appointed as TDB president at a time when allegations surrounding the Sabarimala shrine gold heist were at their peak. The LDF government decided to bring in the widely respected former Chief Secretary to lead the TDB amid public criticism in the wake of the alleged gold theft at the Sabarimala temple.
Jayakumar has extensive experience in Sabarimala administration — he had earlier served as Devaswom Secretary, Chief Devaswom Commissioner, and Chairman of the High Court-appointed high-powered committee on Sabarimala.