Kannur ,25 August (HS):A temple ritual assistant with nearly three decades of service has alleged that he was suspended because his daughter married a man from another caste.

C V Rajan, an Upakarmi at the Muchilott Bhagavathy Temple in Kannur, has challenged the suspension before the Deputy Commissioner of the Malabar Devaswom Board, under which the temple functions. A hearing on his complaint is expected next month.

Rajan, who belongs to the Vaniya community, alleged that the temple authorities began targeting him after his daughter became engaged to a man from the Pothuval community, commonly regarded as an upper-caste section.

The engagement and related ceremonies were held in August 2025, while the couple married on March 15, 2026. Rajan alleged that the temple committee initially directed him to stay away from work following the engagement. The decision was later withdrawn after an Assistant Commissioner of the Devaswom Board intervened and warned the committee, he claimed.

Rajan has also submitted a complaint to V Kunjikrishnan MLA. He said he and his daughter had filed three petitions before the Kerala State Human Rights Commission, but alleged that no action had been taken so far.

The temple authorities, however, have cited disciplinary reasons for the suspension. The order issued by managing trustee E V Krishnan Anthithiriyan accused Rajan of behaving improperly towards members of the temple committee and violating service discipline.

The order further stated that the committee had received several complaints from devotees regarding Rajan's conduct. Rajan has rejected the allegations, maintaining that they were being used to conceal the real reason behind the action against him.

The dispute has now raised concerns about caste-based discrimination in temple administration. The Devaswom Board's decision following the hearing is expected to determine whether the suspension was based on disciplinary grounds or influenced by the inter-caste marriage.

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman