The Supreme Court on Monday in a 300-page verdict upheld the rights of Travancore royal family in the administration of Thiruvananthapuram's famed Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple.
A two-judge bench comprising Justices UU Lalit and Indu Malhotra pronounced the order after nine long years of hearing the case, allowing the appeal filed by members of the Travancore family.
A new temple administration committee chaired by the district judge will be formed.
Inventorying of Vault B, said to hold the most valuable treasures, has been left to the discretion of the new committee.
The existing administration committee chaired by the district judge will continue until the new panel is formed.
The SC order reversed the Kerala High Court order that stated the rights of family ceased to exist with the death of the last ruler of the Travancore in 1991.
The lesser-known Khes weavers in UP, who earn their livelihood solely by churning blankets out of yarns of cotton, have been rendered jobless since the great lockdown began in March.
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V Ratheesan, IAS said the court's direction to continue with the present committee for the timebeing is a recognition.
The state government respects the SUpreme Court verdict and hence won't challenge it, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said.
The top court delivered the verdict on a batch of appeals, including the one filed by the legal representatives of the Travancore royal family, challenging the January 31, 2011 verdict of the high court in the matter.
The question on whether Vault B will be opened or not will be decided by the committee formed. J Lalit stated that this interim arrangement will become the final arrangement.
Broadly described, a shebait is the human ministrant and custodian of an idol, its earthly spokesman, its authorised representative entitled to deal with all its temporal affairs and to manage its property.
Supreme Court specifies that all members of the temple committee will be Hindus.
The apex court stated that administrative Committee will manage the temple affairs while District judge of Thiruvanathpuram will be the chairperson of the committee.
"We allow the appeal of the royal family of Travancore. Death does not effect Shebaitship of the Travancore Family. The bench gives a nod for constituting a committee headed by the district judge of Trivandrum."
The death of the last ruler will not result in escheat of the rights in favour of the government.
Travancore royal family expressed happiness over the verdict. The temple wealth belongs to the deity, said the family.