New Delhi: The issues associated with the assets of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, supposed to be among the richest in the country now, is getting murkier with senior advocate Gopal Subramanium, amicus curiae in the case, on Wednesday, seeking an independent probe by a special investigation team (SIT) led by the CBI director into all matters.
Apart from an SIT probe into the disappearance of valuables like gold and silver ornaments from the temple, Subramanium also demanded an inquiry by a committee headed by the state chief secretary into how the temple lost control over its property.
Gopal Subramaniam said there were many critical issues including the disappearance of 776 kg of gold from the temple. However, the court said these could be considered later. The amicus curiae also urged the court to order the opening of 'kallara B' (B-vault) so that the inventorying process of the jewels and treasures of the temple could be completed. But the bench headed by chief justice J.S. Khehar reiterated that they cannot consider the opening of the B cellar now.
The charges raised by Subramaniam before the judges on Wednesday were based on his findings and the observations by former comptroller and auditor general of India Vinod Rai, the special auditor appointed by the court.
The findings are:
» 769 golden pots weighing a total of 776 kg disappeared from the temple. The total cost is Rs 186 crore.
» A total of 887 kg gold was made molten or melted. The yield was 624 kg, loss 263 kg.
» Accounts are not available for the past years. Income tax returns have not been filed for 2001-02 and 2008-09.
» Offerings received at the temple have never been accounted for. Even the internal auditor accepts that.
» There is no clear account of expenses at the temple. There is no idea of immovable property either.
» There's no record on the gold lockets kept at the Sreekaryam office of the temple.
» The B-vault was opened at least seven times between 1990 July and 2002 December. Advise could be sought from head priests and Kanipayyor Krishnan Namboodiripad about opening the cellar.
» Temple records show 5.72 acre property owned by it. But what it holds is much less. Land alloted for Panchajanyam wedding hall was 1.82 acres but what is available is just 0.67 acres.
SC express dissatisfaction over renovation work
The Supreme Court expressed dissatisfaction at the proposed structural plans of renovation of the twin ponds at Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, saying the idea of restoring them is not to make them start resembling like five-star hotel pools.
The Supreme Court asked the stakeholders, including the temple management committee and the Travancore royal family, to sit together and decide the names of experts for renovation of the historic Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple without tampering with its archaeological heritage.
"The archaeological heritage of the temple should not be disturbed. It (renovation) must be done in such a manner that its ancient nature is preserved," the bench, which also comprised justices D.Y. Chandrachud and S.K. Kaul, said.
Senior advocate Krishan Venugopal, appearing for the Travancore royal family, submitted that there were several allegations against the executive officer of the temple management committee, K.N. Satish, and these cannot be brushed aside. However, the court did not respond to the counsel's demand that the executive officer of the temple should be shifted out.
Advocate Krishnan Venugopal narrated the services rendered by the royal family for the temple. However, Gopal Subramaniam argued that times have changed and the temple cannot anymore be considered private property.
Insisting that there was an ongoing struggle for power, he told the judges that things were not as what they could perceive and were quite complicated.
At the outset, Gopal Subramaniam expressed satisfaction over the manner in which the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) and the temple management were executing the court's order on cleaning two water tanks at the temple in Kerala.
"Something, which did not happen for 70 years, has happened now," he said, adding sewer line is also being laid in and around the temple complex. The court has now fixed the matter for further hearing on May 8.
Earlier, the court had granted two months to the KWA to clean the two water tanks. The government has fixed an estimate of Rs 28 lakh for the cleaning work.
(With agency inputs)