The controversy surrounding the transfer of gazetted officers in the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) continues to escalate, with complaints alleging violations of transfer norms and irregularities in postings. The issue has drawn the attention of Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan, who is learnt to have expressed strong displeasure over the developments. Sources at the Devaswom headquarters indicate that the transfer list may undergo further revisions.
Latest Controversy
The latest controversy centres on two transfer orders issued within a span of 45 minutes involving the state president of the Congress-backed Travancore Devaswom Employees Front, who had lodged complaints with the minister and the TDB president over the transfers. Although the board has revised its transfer orders three times within four days, allegations persist that officials posted to positions reportedly linked to bribery complaints have largely been retained.
Allegations of Bribery
The employees’ front had earlier complained to the minister alleging that bribes were collected for securing postings as administrative officers in temples with high revenue. TDB had issued orders on June 12 appointing officials as Devaswom administrative officers and assistant commissioners. Officials facing allegations in the Sabarimala gold heist case and audit-related fraud cases were also reportedly posted as administrative officer at a major temple and as a vigilance officer.
Transfer Orders Revised
Following written complaints submitted by the employees’ front, TDB issued another order at 9:15 PM on June 16 transferring 27 officials. Under this order, Shyam Prakash, who allegedly recorded incorrect information in connection with the gold heist case, was shifted from the post of administrative officer at Valliyankavu to assistant audit officer at Kottarakkara. P R Sreeshankar, state president of the employees’ front, who had initially been appointed as administrative officer at Sabarimala, was later posted as assistant commissioner (general administration) at the Devaswom headquarters. However, a third order issued at 10 PM the same day transferred him to Ettumanoor temple as assistant commissioner, allegedly after he pointed out irregularities.
