SC order marks a crucial turn in Padmanabhaswamy temple history
1 min read . Updated: 25 Apr 2014, 04:29 PM IST
PremiumThe interim SC order has almost dec-controlled the Padmanabhaswamy temple from the Travancore royal family
Thiruvananthapuram: The interim order of the Supreme Court in the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple case that virtually de-controlled the shrine from the erstwhile Travancore royal family marks clean break from the past.
The apex court, while agreeing with the report of the amicus curiae Gopal Subramaniam, had on Thursday ordered the creation of a five-member administrative set-up under the district judge which will not have any direct representation of the royal family.
The decision also signalled a critical turn in the long-drawn litigation for transparency in administration and proper audit of the huge treasures of the temple, started years ago as a private petition in a local court.
Lord Padmanabha is the family deity of the Travancore royal house and since 18th century, the princes of the lineage had ruled most of south Kerala and adjoining parts of Tamil Nadu as “Padmanabhadasas" (servants of Padmanabha).
After the integration of the princely state in 1947, the royal rule came to an end and most major temples of Travancore were brought under the Devaswom Board. But as a special case, control over the Padmanabhaswamy temple was left in the hands of the royal family.
