Ombudsman for Rs 200-crore-earning Sabarimala wants no salary

KOCHI: Over 200 crores of rupees is received as offerings made by pilgrims every year by Travancore Devaswom Board during the two-month long pilgrimage season at a hilltop shrine in central Kerala called Sabarimala. However, a former high court judge who is the ombudsman for the devaswom board has now approached the Kerala High Court stating that he is not prepared to receive the money given by the pilgrims to the temple towards his salary.
TDB manages over 1,200 temples and has an annual revenue of over Rs350 crores whereas CDB oversees more than 400 temples and earns approximately Rs50 crore. Justice R Bhaksaran, who served as a high court judge for six years, is presently the ombudsman for Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and Cochin Devaswom Board (CDB). He is entitled to emoluments and facilities similar to that of a high court judge. A high court judge is at present paid near to Rs1 lakh per month, with facilities such as a house, car, and personal staff being provided in addition to it.
However, justice Bhaskaran has now informed the high court that the work of an ombudsman is less when compared to the salary being paid to him using the money given by the devotees. He is seeking permission either to relieve him as ombudsman or to allow him to work without pay.
It was in 2007 that justice Bhaskaran was appointed as the ombudsman for TDB and CDB, when he retired from the high court. Though the term of employment is only three years, it was renewed for the next two terms. At the time of appointment, his salary was fixed at Rs25,000 per month. This was raised to Rs50,000 in the subsequent term and later fixed at par with that of a sitting high court judge.