Kochi: The Kerala High Court has granted permission to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to proceed with the selection process for the post of Melsanthies (head priests) at the Sabarimala and Malikappuram temples. This decision comes after a petition challenging the selection process was brought before the court.
The petitioners had raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the selection procedures. However, the court found no substantial grounds to halt the process and allowed the board to move forward with the appointments.
The Melsanthi positions at Sabarimala and Malikappuram are highly revered, and the selection process is conducted with stringent scrutiny by the Devaswom Board. With the court’s approval, the TDB is now set to continue the process and appoint the new head priests for the temples, ensuring that the annual pilgrimage season proceeds smoothly.