Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple wealth evaluation panel to go ahead with work

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The experts committee set up by the Supreme Court to scientifically evaluate the huge treasures found in the vaults of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple here today resolved to go ahead with the order.

Today's meeting of the five-member panel, headed by Director of National Museums C V Ananda Bose, assumed significance in the backdrop of the recent 'Deva Prasnam' or astrological examination of the temple conducted by a group of astrologers cautioning against evaluation of the huge wealth.

The committee would go ahead with the mandate it has been entrusted with by the apex court, committee sources said.

The Supreme Court had on July 21 ordered the formation of the panel and asked it to evaluate the articles found in the vaults already opened, organise an inventory and videograph all the precious articles.

The committee includes an official of the RBI and an archaeology expert.

Today's meeting made an assessment of notes given by the members concerning their areas of specialisation and decided to firm up the work plan and move forward as per the apex court directions, the sources said.

The panel of astrologers who conducted the 'deva prasnam' had last week said that any attempt to evaluate the temple property was against the will of the presiding deity and would lead to ominous consequences.

They had also warned against the examination of the yet to be opened 'B' vault since it was located just below the sanctum sanatorium of the temple.

Earlier, a seven-member panel, which included two former high court judges, had opened five of the six vaults for inventorying the properties and found priceless treasures in the form of gold jewellery and trinkets, piles of gold and silver coins and many other precious articles.