Six deputy abbots from the royal monastery Wat Sothon yesterday petitioned for the dismissal of its monastic chief, Phra Theppanya Methee, over his nomination of an elderly monk as the temple's new abbot.
Located in Chachoengsao, the prosperous temple attracts a large number of Buddhists each day and receives donations to the tune of several billion baht.
Chachoengsao monastic chief Phra Theppanya Methee has chosen 84-year-old Phra Phiphittakijjapiwat, abbot of Wat Thasa-arn and monastic head of Bang Pakong district, as the new abbot for Wat Sothon - a choice which has upset the temple's deputy abbots.
Phra Khru Soponsorrakij, a deputy abbot at Wat Sothon, yesterday said Phra Thep Panya Methee should be removed from the monastic-chief post because he had failed to appoint the new abbot for Wat Sothon within the five-year time frame.
"This has caused huge damage to Wat Sothon," the monk said.
Phra Khru Soponsorrakij also questioned the nomination as being like "putting a jungle fowl in a flock of domesticated chickens, which may attack the newcomer". He also complained the Chachoengsao monastic chief had not consulted monks at Wat Sothon first.
Phra Theppanya Methee yesterday insisted he had made the nomination in line with the rules.
"The regulations do not require me to consult the monks of each temple. I am only required to submit the nomination to the Supreme Sangha Council for approval," he said.
Amnaj Buasiri, who heads the Secretariat for the Supreme Sangha Council, said all monks would have to accept the decision by the council.
"The Supreme Sangha Council will decide on who should become the new abbot of Wat Sothon on November 10," he added.
Phra Phromsuthee, a member of the Supreme Sangha Council and acting abbot of Wat Sothon, said monks at the temple might simply be too sceptical about an outsider because of the huge donations the temple received each day.
"I know the management of Wat Sothon must be conducted with extreme caution. But I can say that Phra Phiphittakijjapiwat is a very good monk," Phra Promsuthee said.
He pointed out that Phra Phiphittakijjapiwat had spent more than Bt30 million of his own inheritance developing the temple.
"This should prove he will never seek personal benefit from Wat Sothon," Phra Promsuthee said.