The Supreme Patriarch has endorsed a request by the Sangha Supreme Council to remove a senior monk from the governing body of the clergy for allegedly causing a rift between Buddhists, in addition to other wrongdoings, a senior Religious Affairs Department official said yesterday.
Director-general Paiboon Siangkong said the department had received the Supreme Patriarch's authorisation, which came into effect on Monday.
The council agreed that Phra Dharma Kittivong, abbot of Wat Orasaram, should lose his position on the council after his critical book entitled "The National Education Act and the Future of Buddhism" led to heated exchanges between supporters and opponents that resulted in a "wide rift" between Buddhists.
Phra Dharma Kittivong was accused of defying a council resolution by campaigning against its stance on the new education law and drumming up support for his cause within the monastic community.
The council also found that the monk had caused the government to lose tens of millions of baht by failing to complete certain religious projects.
Paiboon said yesterday that his department would officially notify the monk and the Cabinet member overseeing religious affairs of the Supreme Patriarch's decision before informing a council meeting on Friday.
The Supreme Patriarch is empowered to appoint a replacement for the abbot, Paiboon said.
Phra Dharma Kittivong's lawyer, Wuthichai Rattanasoon, said yesterday that the monk had told his followers not to protest against the matter as they might be deemed to be in contempt of the Supreme Patriarch.
Deputy Education Minister Jamlong Krutkuntode, who oversees the Religious Affairs Department, said yesterday that he respected the council's decision. However, he added that monks should have the right to air their views in public over educational reform.