SC upholds right of Travancore royal family in administration of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala
A two-judge Supreme Court bench led by Justice UU Lalit pronounced verdict in the case pertaining to Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple administration dispute.
Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala | Photo Credit: PTI
Key Highlights
- Death of Travancore ruler who signed covenant does not affect shebaitship of family, said the SC bench
- This interim arrangement to continue till Constitution of a newly formed Committee: SC
New Delhi: Putting an end to a nine-year dispute, the Supreme Court on Monday upheld the rights of the erstwhile royal family of Travancore in the administration and management of Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It should be noted that the temple came into limelight as one of the richest temples in the country after the discovery of wealth locked in 'kallaras' (vaults) for centuries.
Reversing the Kerala High Court's 2011 order that the rights of the royal family ceased to exist after the death of the last ruler of Travancore in 1991, the Supreme Court said the death of the last ruler will not result in revocation of rights of the family in favour of the Kerala government.
The top court further said that the death will not affect the rights of shebaitship of the family over the deity and they will survive as per custom. The court also approved the constitution of an interim committee headed by District Judge, Thiruvananthapuram to manage the affairs of the temple till a new committee is formed.
Reacting to the Supreme Court's verdict, Travancore royal family member Adithya Varma said, "We wholeheartedly welcome the judgment. It re-establishes our family's connection with Lord Sree Padmanabha. The family is happy about it. We are looking forward to reading the full verdict."
Kerala Devaswom Board Minister Kadakampally Surendran said, "The government welcomes the Supreme Court verdict in Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple case. It's the government's duty to implement and comply with its verdict."
A case pending in court for over nine years
Back on April 10, 2019, a Supreme Court bench comprising of Justices UU Lalit and Indu Malhotra had reserved its judgement on the pleas challenging the January 31, 2011 verdict of the Kerala High Court in the matter.
The Kerala High Court had ordered the state government to set up a body or trust to take control of the temple, its assets and management to run the temple in accordance with old traditions.
However, the top court stayed the High Court's order on May 2, 2011, and also directed that there shall be a detailed inventory of the articles, valuables, ornaments in Kallaras (vaults).
On July 8, 2011, the apex court said that "opening of kallara 'B' is to be kept in abeyance till further orders".
RELATED NEWS
Later in July 2017, the Supreme Court had asserted that it would examine the claims that one of the 'kallaras' of the temple contained "extraordinary" treasure and "mystical" energy.
The apex court's assertions had come after senior advocate Gopal Subramaniam told it that 'Kallara' (vault) B of the temple should be opened as it was closed "on the apprehension that there is some mystical energy".
Travancore royal family and the temple
It should be noted that the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple was rebuilt in its present form in the 18th century by the Travancore Royal House which ruled Southern Kerala and some parts of Tamil Nadu till 1947.
Even after India's independence, the temple continued to be governed by a trust controlled by the erstwhile royal family for whom Lord Padmanabha (Vishnu) is their family deity.