Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

State clears the air on temple takeover

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has clarified that it has not taken any decision to take over the administration of Padmanabha Swami temple in Thiruvananthapuram. The office of the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs clarified that reports to the contrary were baseless. A case, however, was pending before the Thiruvananthapuram sub court.

Principal Sub Judge S.S. Vasan observed in December last year that a vacuum existed regarding the administration of the temple and the government could take appropriate decisions in the matter. However, it is learnt that the government is not inclined to take an immediate decision on the matter.

Opinion is divided among devotees whether the administration should remain with the Trust controlled by the royal family of erstwhile Travancore. The issue had come before the sub judge when N. Viswambharan and R. Padmanabhan challenged the opening of temple cellars containing valuable materials. The court, which prohibited opening of the cellars, said the royal rights over the Temple Trust had been extinguished with the Supreme Court upholding stoppage of Privy Purse and the death of Maharaja Sri Chitira Tirunal.

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