The Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board Act, 2015

THE KERALA DEVASWOM RECRUITMENT 
BOARDACT 2015 
ACT 16 Of 2015 
An act to provide for the constitution of an autonomous Devaswom 
Recruitment Board for preparing select list of candidates for the appointment in various 
posts other than hereditary posts and the posts in aided educational institutions in 
Devaswom Boards of the State of Kerala and for matters Connected therewith or incidental thereto. 
	
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Preamble._ WHEREAS, it is expedient to provide for the constitution of 
an autonomous Devaswom Recruitment Board for preparing select list of candidates for 
	
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the appointments in various posts other than hereditary posts and the posts in aided 
educational institutions in Devaswom Boards of the State of Kerala and for matters 
	
H' 	 Connected therewith or incidental thereto; 
Be, it enacted in the Six-sixth year of the Republic of India as follows: 
CHAPTER I 
PRELIMINARY 
Short title and commencement._ 
(1) This Act may be called the Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board Act 2015. 
(2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st day of March, 2014 
Deflnitions._ In this Act unless the context otherwise requires,_ 
"Board" means the Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board constituted under Section 3; 
"Devaswom Board" means the Travancore Devaswom Board or 
Cochin Devaswom Board or Malabar Devaswom Board or Guruvayoor 
Devaswom Managing Committee or Koodalmanickam Devaswom 
Managing Committee; 
"Governmenr means the Government of Kerala; 
"Hindu Scheduled Tribe" means a person belonging to the Scheduled Tribe-Hindu Community• 
"heredita posts" means such posts as may be prescribed by the rules made under this Act; 
"Memb' means a member of the Board and includes the Chairperson; 
5.4 	 KERALA DEVASWOM RECRUITMENT BOARD ACT, 2015 	 313 
g) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules or regulations made under 
this Act. 
CHAPTER II 
CONSTITUTION OF THE BOARD 
3. Constitution of the Board.— (1) The Government shall, as soon as may be, 
after the commencement of this Act, by notification in the Gazette constitute a Board 
to be known as the 'Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board' to exercise the powers 
conferred on it and to perform the functions under this Act. 
(2) The Board shall be an independent and autonomous body corporate in 
the name aforesaid, having perpetual succession and common seal and shall in the said 
name, sue and be sued. 
1[(3) The Board shall consist of Chairperson and two members nominated by 
the Government, who belong to Hindu religion and having faith in God and temple 
worship. A person who is or has been a DistrictJudge or qualified to be appointed as 
DistrictJudge shall be appointed as Chairperson of the Board. Among the members 
one shall be a woman and one shall be a person belonging to Scheduled Caste or 
Scheduled Tribe. Members shall have experience in handling labour, service or 
administrative matters.] 
The Government may appoint a person holding the post of Additional 
Secretary to Government as the Secretary to the Board. He shall be the Chief Executive 
Officer of the Board and shall exercise such powers and discharge such functions as 
may be authorised by the Board. 
The headquarters of the Board shall be atThiruvananthapuram. 
4. Disqualification for membership.— Any person shall be disqualified to be 
a member of the Board by nomination, if he,- 
is of unsound mind; or 
is an undischarged insolvent; or 
is an office-bearer oran employee of a Local Self Government Institution 
or a Devaswom Board; or 
is interested in an existing contract in which the Board is involved or is 
engaged in any work on behalf of the Board; or 
has been convicted by a Criminal Court for any offence involving moral 
turpitude; or 
has been removed from holding any office in pursuance of a Court order; 
or 
is or has been engaged in the production or sale of liquor. 
sub by the Act 22 of 2016 w.e.f 29/11/2016 for 'The Board shall consist of six members nominated 
by the Government, who belongs to Hindu religion and having faith in God and temple rituals. One 
person who is or has been holding a post not below the rank of secretary to Government shall be the 
chairperson and among other members one shall be a woman and one shall be a member belonging 
to scheduled caste or scheduled Tribe." - 
314 TRAVANCORE-COCHIN HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS ACT& RULES 	 5.5 
S. Terms of Office and conditions of service of the Chairperson and 
members.— 1[(1) The Chairperson and other members may continue in office till 
the completion of a period of three years from the date on which they assume office.] 
(2) The Chairperson or Member of the Board may, at any time, resign his office 
by giving a notice in writing to the Government under his hand. 
(3) The term of office of a member nominated to fill a temporary vacancy shall 
be only for the period during which that member in whose vacancy he was nominated, 
would have held office. 
(4) The Government may, by order, remove the Chairperson or any member 
from office, if that person,- 
(a) becomes an undischarged insolvent; or 
(h) has been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for an office which, 
in the opinion of the Government, involves moral turpitude; or 
becomes of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent Court; 
or 
refuses to work or becomes incapable of doing work; or 
does not attend three consecutive meetings of the Board without the 
permission of the Board; or 
has, in the opinion of the Government, so abused his official position 
so as to render his continuance in that post detrimental to the interest 
of the Board or public: 
• 	 Providedthat no person shall be removed under this sub-section unless that 
person has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard. 
(5) A vacancy occurred under sub-section (2) or otherwise shall be filled by fresh 
nomination. 
(6) (7cperson once appointed as Chairperson or Member is not eligible for 
re-appointment. 
(7) The Chairperson and Members shall be full-time officers and shall be eligible 
to such salary and allowances as may be prescribed. 
6. Appointment of officers and employees of the Board.— (1) The Government 
may, appoint the following officers and employees necessary for the proper management 
of the Board, namely:- 
a Law Officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary to Government in 
the Law Department; 
a Finance Office not below the rank ofjoint Secretary to Government in 
the Finance Department; and 
such other officers and employees as may be prescribed and considered 
1. Sub by the Act 22 of 2016 w.e.f 29/11/2016 for "The chairperson and other members may continue 
in office till the completion of a period of five years from the date on which they assume office or till 
they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier." 
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5.9 	 KERALA DEVASWOM RECRUITMENT BOARD ACT, 2015 	 315 
necessary for assisting the Board in the exercise of its powers and 
performance of its functions under this Act. 
The officers and employees of the Board shall belong to Hindu religion and 
shall have faith in God and temple rituals. 
When the Board constitute and starts its functioning, the Government may 
appoint the officers and employees initially through deputation. 
The Board may appoint the officers and employees either directly or on 
deputation in the manner, as may be prescribed, by the regulations. 
The salary and allowances payable to, and other terms and conditions of 
service of the officers and employees of the Board shall be such, as may be prescribed. 
The rules applicable to the Government employees in respect of the method 
of appointment salary and allowances, discipline and other conditions of service shall 
be applicable to the officers and employees of the Board. 
7. Vacancies etc. not to invalidate proceedings of the Board.— No act or 
proceedings of the Board shall become invalid merely on the ground of the existence 
of any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Board. 
• 	 8. Meetings of the Board.— (1) The Board shall meet whenever necessary, at 
such place and time, as the Chairperson may deem fit. 
The meeting of the Board shall be convened by the Secretary of the Board 
on the recommendation of the Chairperson. 
Meeting of the Board shall be presided over by the Chairperson and in his 
absence by a member chosen by the Members present from among themselves. 
The quorum for a meeting shall be 2[twoJ including the Chairperson. 
Any matter coming up before a meeting of the Board shall be decided by 
a majority of the members present and voting at the meeting and in the case of equality 
of votes, the Chairperson or the member who is presiding over the meeting, shall have 
a casting vote right. 
The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the proceedings of each meeting 
in a book maintained for the purpose, which shall be signed by the Chairperson or 
the person presiding and all the members present at such meeting. 
• 	 CHAPTER III 
FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE BOARD 
9. Functions of the Board.— (1) The Board shall have the following functions, 
namely:- 
(i) notwithstanding anything contained in any other existing Act or 
Rules or Regulations or orders or judgment or decree in respect of 
the appointment of candidates to the posts in the Devaswom Board, 
2. sub by the Act 22 of 2016 w.e.f 29/11/2016 for iour. 
316 TRAVANCORE-COCHIN HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS ACT & RULES 	 S.9 
the Board shall prepare select list for the appointment of candidates 
to various posts other than the heriditary posts and posts in the aided 
educational institutions in the Devaswom Boards as per the provisions 
of this Act, Rule and Regulations; 
to invite applications, to conduct written examination or interview or 
written examination and interview and to prepare select list for selection 
to the various posts other than the heriditary posts under the Devaswom 
Board, as may be prescribed, as and when the requisition for such 
examination is received from the concerned Devaswom Board; 
to make all required arrangements in connection with the examination 
including the preparation of quesion papers, supervision olexaminations 
and valuation, conduct of interview and preparation of the select list; 
. I • 	 (iv) to conduct any other examination relating to Devaswom Board as 
entrusted by the Government; 
(v) to call for and obtain details regarding the examination from 
tit the concerned Devaswom Board. 
The Board shall be responsible for the proper conduct of the examination, 
to maintain the secrecy in the preparation of question paper, valuation, preparation 
of the list of candidates to be interviewed and preparation of the final select list to 
be furnished to the Devaswom Board and other connected matters and for the safe 
custody of the records pertaining to the examinations. 
(i) The Board shall conduct written examination to the candidates who 
had submitted applications and prepare list, after conducting interview or written 
examination and interview; 
(H) Examination may be conducted for any Devaswom Board or for all 
the Devaswom Boards in suitable manner for the said purpose; 
(iii) An applicant, who applies for more than one post or to more than 
one Devaswom Boards, shall not be denied the right to appear in more than 
one examination: 
Provided that, if the candidate applies for examinations to various posts being 
conducted by the Board and in the circumstances of conducting examinations to more 
than one post by the Board on the same day the right referred in 3(iii) shall not be 
available to such candidate. 
The procedure to be followed by the Board, in respect of the invitation of 
applications, conduct of written examination, preparation of list of candidates to be 
interviewed, conduct of interview and preparation of the select list to various posts in 
the Devaswom Board, shall be such may be prescribed. 
The Board may issue general direction to the Devaswom Boards 
incidental to the functions of the Board and as are necessary for the conduct of 
the examinations. 
It shall be the duty of the Board to furnish the select list to the Devaswom 
Board and advise to the candidate prepared in the manner as may be prescribed. 
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5.16 	 KERALADEVASWOM RECRUITMENT BOARD ACT, 2015 	 317 
CHAPTER IV 
EXPENDITURE, BUDGET, ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT OF THE BOARD 
10. Expenditure of the Board.— The expenditure of the Board including 
the salary, allowances and pension payable to the Chairperson, Members and Officers 
of the Board shall be met from the Consolidated Fund of the State. 
11. Appropriation of the Board.—The Government shall, after due appropriation 
made by law for this purpoze i n the State legislative Assembly, grant such amount to 
the Board as deemed necessary for utilization for the purposes of this Act. 
12. Budget.— The Board shall prepare in each financial year a budget containing 
anticipated income and expenditure for the next financial year and shall submit 
the same to the Government within two months from the commencement of each 
financial year, with such number of copies of the budget so prepared, as may be 
required by the Government. 
13. Accounts and Audit.— (1) The Board shall maintain proper accounts and 
other relevant records and prepare the annual statement of accounts in such from as 
may be prescribed, in consultation with the Accountant General. 
The accounts of the Board shall be audited annually bythe Accountant General 
and expenditure incurred in respect of such audit shall be payable by the Board to the 
Accountant General. 
The Accountant General and any person appointed by him in connection 
with the audit of accounts of the Board under this .Act shall have the same rights 
and privileges as Accountant General generally has in connection with the audit of 
Government accounts and, in particular, shall have the right to demand the production 
of books, accounts, connected vouchers and other documents and papers and to 
inspect any office of the Board. 
The accounts of the Board, as certified by the Accountant General or any 
other person engaged by him in this behalf, together with the audit report thereon 
shall be forwarded annually to the Government by the Board and the Government 
shall cause the report to be laid before the legislative Assembly within a period of six 
months from the date of its receipt. 
14. Annual Rport.—The Board shall, for each financial year, prepare annual 
report containing the complete details of its activities in the previous financial year in 
such form and time as may be prescribed and shall also forward a copy of it directly 
to the Government. 
CHAPTER V 
MISCELLANEOUS 
15. Chairperson. Members and Employees of the Board to be public 
servants.— The Chairperson, Members and Employees of the Board shall be deemed 
to be public servants within the meaning of Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 
(Central Act 45 of 1860). 
16. Powers to remove difficulties.— (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect 
318 TRAVANCORE-COCHIN HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS ACT& RULES 	 5.17 
to the provisions of this Act, the Government may, by order published in the Gazette, 
make provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act which appear to it to 
be necessary or expedient for removing such difficulty: 
Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiry of a period of two 
years from the date of commencement of this Act. 
(2) Every order made under this section shall, as soon as may be after it is made, 
be laid before the Legislative Assembly. 
17. Power to make regulations.— The Board may, with prior approval of 
the Government, issue necessary regulations for the proper conduct of examination, 
in respect of the salaries, allowances payable to the employees of the Board and other 
terms and conditions of service. 
18. Power to make rules.— (1) The Government may, by notification in 
the Gazette, make rules, either prospectively or retrospectively, for carrying out 
the purposes of this Act. 
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers, 
such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:- 
The hereditary posts under Clause (e) of Section 2; 
salaries and allowances payable to the Chairperson and Members under 
sub-section (7) of SectionS, and the officers and other employees under 
Clause (c) of sub-section (1) and sub-section (5) of Section 6 and other 
terms and conditions in respect of their service; 
the procedure for the proper conduct of examination under 
sub-section (4) of Section 9; 
the form in which the annual statement of accounts shall be prepared 
• 	 under sub-section (1) of Section 13; 
• 	 (e) the form in which, and the time at which the annual report shall be 
prepared under Section 14; 
• 	 (1) regarding the reservation to be followed at the time of preparation of 
select list of various posts in Devaswom Board; 
(g) any other matter which is to be or may be prescribed. 
(3) Every rule made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, 
before the Legislative Assembly while it is in session for a total period of fourteen days 
which may be comprised in one session or in two successive sessions, and if, before 
the expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following, 
the Legislative Assembly makes any modification in the rule or decides that 
the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified 
from or be of no effect, as the case may be; so however that any such modification or 
annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under 
that rule. 
19. Validation.— Notwithstanding the cesser of operation of the Kerala 
Devaswom Recruitment Board Ordinance, 2015(5 of 2015) (hereinafter referred to as 
the said Ordinance):- 
S.19 	 KERALA DEVASWOM RECRUITMENT BOARD ACT, 2015 	 319 
anything done or deemed to have been done or any action taken or deemed 
to have been taken by the said Ordinance shall be deemed to have been done or taken 
by this Act; 
anything done or any action taken by the Board or any authority constituted 
under the said Ordinance after the cesser of operation of the said Ordinance and 
before the date of publication of this Act in the Gazette, which could have been done 
or taken by the said Ordinance if the said Ordinance had not ceased to operate, shall 
be deemed to have been done or taken by this Act. 

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