How Sabarimala's Melsanthies are chosen: the interview, the draw of lots and the observer the High Court has now appointed
Background
This matters now because on Tuesday, 29 September the Kerala High Court appointed former judge Justice V G Arun as observer for the selection of Melsanthies (head priests) of the Sabarimala and Malikappuram temples.
A Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K V Jayakumar acted in a suo motu case arising from the Sabarimala Special Commissioner's report.
The Travancore Devaswom Board received 78 applications, 48 for Sabarimala and 30 for Malikappuram; after a vigilance enquiry five candidates were recommended for Sabarimala and three for Malikappuram.
Interviews are set for October 5 at the Board's headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, and the observer is to be present at Sabarimala for the draw of lots.
The Court ordered marks to be entered with a ball point pen, mark sheets countersigned by the observer and the whole proceedings videographed.
In plain words
Melsanthi — The head priest of a temple such as Sabarimala, chosen by a draw of lots from a shortlist.
Suo motu — Action taken by a court on its own, without a petition.