The authorities in Nepal have finalised a key document linked to the appointment of new priests at Pashupatinath Temple, which was at the centre of a major row after the removal of Indian Brahmins at the shrine.

Pashupatinath Area Development Trust (PADT), the body that manages the 17th century shrine, has finalised a ‘concept paper’ for framing new sets of regulation for the appointment of priests at the temple and managing its resources, Kantipur Online said on Monday.

According to Parmananda Shakya, PADT member secretary, the Trust has prepared the ‘concept paper’ after receiving suggestions from experts and prominent personalities from the religious field. The PADT is headed by Maoist Minister for Culture and State Restructuring Gopal Kiranti.

The centuries-old temple was at the centre of a row for weeks after the Maoist-led government sacked the Indian priests serving in the temple and replaced them with local priests. Prime Minister Prachanda, who is also the patron of the temple, reversed the decision and reinstated the Indian priests after protests by locals and political parties.

According to the document, the PADT will employ a group of experts to ascertain the methods of worship at the Nepal’s holiest temple. The experts will seek the advice of incumbent head priest at the temple in this task. The ‘concept paper’ calls for the appointment of priests through open competition and creation of a new taskforce to fix the salaries of the priests.