Times News NetworkThiruvananthapuram: The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on Thursday constituted a three-member expert committee to recommend who should serve as Sabarimala tantri (chief priest) during the forthcoming Mandalakala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season.The decision was taken at a board meeting a day after the high court clarified that the TDB has the authority to decide on the continuation of incumbent tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru.TDB president K Jayakumar said the expert committee would meet him on Friday and submit its recommendation. “The tantri’s post requires specialized knowledge of temple rituals and traditions. Hence, only an expert committee is qualified to recommend an appointment,” he said.The issue arose after Rajeevaru sought to step down as tantri and requested that his son, Brahmadathan, succeed him. Rajeevaru, an accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case under SIT investigation, had also sought to withdraw from the melsanthi interview board and nominate his son in his place. The board will take a final decision after receiving the committee’s report.
