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Another controversy surrounds Sivagiri mutt

The Sivagiri mutt in Kerala is again in the midst of a controversy.

The chairman and the administrator of the Sreenarayana Dharma Sanghom Trust Advisory Committee, the mutt's government-appointed caretaker, have decided to step down from their posts.

Chairman Dr Sukumar Azhikode and Administrator Dr M Sarangadharan arrived at this decision two days after the Kerala government announced its decision to extend the committee's term by another year. The government had taken over the administration two years ago, following disputes between two groups of sanyasins.

When contacted, Dr Sarangadharan said he had already requested the government to relieve him. ''I would like to go back to my teaching profession,'' he said.

Dr Sarangadharan headed the commerce department of the Kerala University before he assumed the Trust assignment.

Denying reports that he had decided to step down following differences with the government, he said the government had appointed the committee for a period of two years with a provision to extend its term further for three years. ''But there was no timeframe for my appointment. Normally, my tenure would have ended today after the completion of two years. Since the government extended the term of the committee for another year, I sought the permission of the government to relieve me,'' he said, adding that the government was yet to respond.

Dr Sarangadharan also denied a report that his decision had to do with Dr Azhikode's resignation. In a statement in Thrissur, Dr Azhikode had said he was opting out on "health grounds.''

UNI

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