Supreme Court set for another hearing on Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple

Thiruvananthapuram: Supreme Court will hear the next round of arguments on the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple case on July 3 in vastly altered circumstances. A new executive officer, V Ratheesan, has taken over, Mitranandapuram Pond has been restored, and K.K. Venugopal who had been appearing for the erstwhile royal family is now the attorney general. 

Perhaps of greater significance, amicus curiae Gopal Subramanium has requested the apex court in a letter dated June 15 that he be relieved of his responsibilities. 

Nonetheless, the amicus curiae has submitted a report to the Court on the status of various works undertaken to strengthen the spiritual and temporal infrastructure of the temple. 

On the basis of this report, the apex court is expected to take stock of the security arrangements, maintenance and restoration works in the temple. There are already concerns about the security and surveillance of the temple.

 Reports of missing diamonds, valued at over Rs 20 lakh have been doing the rounds. The amicus curiae has reportedly given a comprehensive review of the security situation in and around the temple.

 The court had directed the temple administrative committee to restore the Sreekovil of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Sree Ugra Narasimhamurthy, Thirumbadi Sreekrishna Swamy and other shrines. 

This in addition to the restoration of the two tanks, Padmatheertham and Mithranandapuram.  Some like Mitranana-dapuram are complete while others are in advanced stages of completion.

 During the earlier sitting in February, the Supreme Court had chastised the then executive officer, K N Satheesh, for what was observed as “wild charges” against the royal family. 

The apex court had even asked him to withdraw the affidavit against the royal family and file a fresh one. The new executive officer, who has been appointed after getting the concurrence of the royal family, continues to hold charge as the panchayat director.