T’puram: Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president K Jayakumar on Tuesday said that complaints raised over the recent transfer of board employees would be addressed and the existing transfer orders reviewed.Speaking to reporters after a board meeting in Thiruvananthapuram, Jayakumar said TDB was committed to considering the legitimate demands of employees and that most of the complaints received had already been resolved. Around 20 transfer postings are likely to be revised based on the grievances raised, he added. Jayakumar also noted that some temple postings had not attracted applications from employees.The TDB president said the main complaints related to junior employees being given preference over senior staff in transfer postings. Ignoring seniority and granting preferred postings to junior employees was unfair and naturally led to dissatisfaction among employees, he said.According to Jayakumar, the discrepancies were rectified after extensive discussions while strictly adhering to established norms. “A considerable amount of time had to be spent on a single transfer process,” he remarked.Responding to questions regarding Shyam Prakash, who has been at the centre of recent controversies, Jayakumar said TDB was not aware of any allegations against him beyond those already in the public domain. However, he added that any fresh complaints would be examined.“He is not currently an employee of the board. How can a person be removed merely because the police questioned him in connection with a case?” Jayakumar asked. He clarified that disciplinary action could be considered only if there was a vigilance case against an individual or if vigilance clearance was unavailable. The board, he said, had considered only those who possessed the required vigilance clearance.Referring to reports that Shyam Prakash had been questioned by the special investigation team (SIT), Jayakumar said he was not aware of the development. He further maintained that TDB treated all employees equally, irrespective of their political affiliations, and that addressing their grievances remained its responsibility.“The board is not claiming that every issue has been fully resolved,” he said, adding that efforts would continue to address genuine concerns raised by employees.Padmakumar only suspended as CPM worried about disclosures: MuraliMeanwhile, devaswom minister K Muraleedharan on Tuesday claimed that CPM merely suspended A Padmakumar, a former TDB president and accused in the Sabarimala gold heist cases, as it was afraid he might make some revelations that could harm the party.“He was merely suspended and not removed as they are afraid about the truths he might reveal,” the minister claimed.Padmakumar was suspended from CPM following the SIT probe against him in the Sabarimala gold heist case.(With agency inputs)
