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HIGHLIGHTS | SC upholds Travancore royal family's rights to administer Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple

The verdict, pronounced by a division bench of Justices Indu Malhotra and UU Lalit, ruled that an administrative committee headed by the District Judge will continue to manage the temple.
Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple. (Express Photo)
Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple. (Express Photo)
Online Desk

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.

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Chronology of events

  • Jan 31, 2011: HC orders state government to take over the temple's control, restrains executive officer and Maharaja of the royal family against opening any of Kallaras (vault).

  • May 2: An appeal of Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma, brother of the last ruler, comes up for hearing before the SC, which grants interim stay on the high court directives. It also directs conducting a detailed inventory of the articles/ valuables/ ornaments in Kallaras (vaults) and appoints a team of observers.

  • Jul 8: SC orders that opening of kallara 'A' and 'B' is to be kept in abeyance till further orders.

  • Jul 21: SC considers state's response, directs setting up of an Expert Committee to advise on inventory, conservation and security. It says panel would examine and give an opinion whether it is necessary to open Kallara 'B'.

  • Sep 22: SC examines interim report of the Expert Committee, issues directions. It says issue relating to opening of Kallara 'B' shall be considered after substantial progress is made in regard to documentation, categorization, security, preservation, conservation, maintenance and storage relating to the contents in the other Kallaras.

  • Aug 23, 2012: The Court appointed Senior Advocate Gopal Subramaniam as an amicus curiae.

  • Dec 6, 2013: Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma passed away, his legal heirs later substitute him in SC.

  • Apr 15, 2014: Amicus Curiae submits report.

  • Apr 24: The Court appoints Administrative Committee headed by the District Judge, Thiruvananthapuram, to manage the temple.

  • Aug-Sep 2014: Gopal Subramaniam writes to SC opting out as amicus curiae. Later, he withdraws his resignation and continues to assist the SC.

  • Nov 2014: Royal family questions Amicus Curiae Gopal Subramaniam's report, files objections before SC.

  • Nov 27: SC accepts some of the recommendations made by the Amicus Curiae.

  • Jul 4, 2017: SC appoints Justice K S P Radhakrishnan as Chairman of the Selection Committee for the Sreekovil and other allied works. SC says it would examine claims that one of the vaults of the temple contains extraordinary treasure with "mystical" energy, passes a slew of directions including on the security of the treasures, auditing of accounts and repair of the deity.

  • Jan-Apr 2019: The cases are posted before the bench comprising of Justices UU Lalit and Indu Malhotra for final hearing.

  • Apr 10: SC reserves verdict on pleas challenging January 31, 2011 judgement of the Kerala HC in the matter.

  • Jul 13, 2020: SC upholds right of Travancore royal family in administration of Temple.

    • Royal family express happiness

    Temple executive officer welcomes verdict

    V Ratheesan, IAS said the court's direction to continue with the present committee for the timebeing is a recognition.

    State govt welcomes verdict

    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.

    Committee to decide whether to open Vault B or not

    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.

    What is Shebaitship?

    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.

    All committee members to be Hindus

    Supreme Court specifies that all members of the temple committee will be Hindus.

    Shebaitship by royal family upheld

    The apex court stated that administrative Committee will manage the temple affairs while District judge of Thiruvanathpuram will be the chairperson of the committee.

    Verdict as read out:

    "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.

    Royal family reacts to the verdict

    Travancore royal family expressed happiness over the verdict. The temple wealth belongs to the deity, said the family.

    Quick background of the case

  • The bench comprising Justice UU Lalit and Justice Indu Malhotra is considering the appeal petition filed by the Travancore royal family against the 2011 verdict of the Kerala High Court.

  • The High Court had ruled that the temple and its assets should be taken over by the state government. Inventorying of the vaults where a treasure worth one lakh crore is hidden was also ordered.

  • Though inventorying of three vaults was completed, the opening of the Vault B, said to be the most important among them in terms of the value of items, was not done following the opposition of the royal family. They claimed that the vault cannot be opened as it would affect the sanctity of the shrine.

  • In the course of the case the royal family had put forth a suggestion to form a committee to manage the temple with a retired high court justice as its chairman.

  • The family wanted the chairman to be nominated by the high court chief justice. Besides the decision on ownership and management of the temple, the SC is also expected to make a call on whether to open the vault B.

    • SC upholds royal family's rights

    Supreme Court
    Kerala government
    Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple
    Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple verdict

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