Wealth belongs to deity: Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple management

NEW DELHI: The Kerala government, Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple management and heirs of the Martanda Varma Travancore royal family on Thursday agreed before the Supreme Court that the unprecedented wealth unearthed at the temple belonged to the deity and no one else can lay claim on it.

Relieved by the unanimity among parties, a bench of Justices R V Raveendran and A K Patnaik said the priority was to appoint an expert panel which could suggest guidelines for the safe-keeping of the treasure, its security and the possibility of displaying some of the ancient artifacts in the temple's museum.

It told the Kerala government counsel P V Dinesh that the Rs 1 crore sanctioned for upgrading security of the temple after the discovery of the wealth was inadequate. The counsel said it was an ad hoc allotment and more could be given.

Appearing for the temple management, senior advocate K K Venugopal suggested appointing the curator of the Supreme Court Museum for the preservation and restoration of the ancient artifacts. He said those with artistic and historic value could be preserved, but "articles which have no heritage, artistic or historic value are to be kept separately. These are the items which can possibly be disposed of and converted into cash or immovable property by persons competent to act on behalf of the temple."

Royal family heir Rama Varma's power of attorney holder told the court through senior advocate P P Rao that the unopened vault, 'Kallara B', should not be opened without conducting the traditional "Deva Prashnam' (seeking the deity's permission), so as not to incur the displeasure of Lord Padmanabha.

But, the court said opening and making an inventory of the articles in 'Kallara B' could wait as the security of the wealth, speculated upon by the media, was paramount at this stage. It would pass orders on July 21.