Thiruvananthapuram (06.12.2025): Kerala IAS officer B Ashok (IAS: 1998: KL) has moved to the Court, challenging the recent appointment of former Chief Secretary K Jayakumar (Retd IAS: 1978: KL)  as President and member of the Travancore Devaswom Board. He argues that the appointment violates Section 7(iii) of the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act, which disqualifies any person holding an office of profit under the government and drawing a government salary from serving on the Board.

Ashok submits that Jayakumar is currently serving as Director of the Institute of Management in Government (IMG), a position to which he was appointed by the Kerala government and which is a salaried role. The Kerala government appointed Jayakumar as one of the three members of the Travancore Devaswom Board with effect from November 14, and subsequently nominated him as President.

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