The legislature committee on Women and Child Development has sought information from the Revenue department on the number of temple priest posts reserved for women. The action comes close on the heels of Congress leader Janardhan Poojary encouraging widowed women as priests at Gokarnanatheshwara temple in Kudroli, Mangalore.
In a letter addressed to the Revenue secretary, who is also the in-charge for the Muzrai department, the chairperson for the committee and Congress MLA Shakuntala Shetty has sought information on the reservation provided for women in appointments to the posts of priests andother posts in the Muzrai department. When contacted, Shetty told Deccan Herald that the idea was to ensure reservation for women in all the departments. When questioned whether the move was triggered by Poojary’s action, Shetty said the decision was of the committee and not hers’ alone.