Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala CPI(M) on Thursday said that control of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple and its wealth should be restored with Travancore Royal House and flayed the proposals submitted in the Supreme Court by amicus curiae in the case.
"In drawing up the proposals, amicus curiae has acted like a loyal servant of the royal family. The role of the amicus curiae is to help the court. But here, the suggestions are misleading," CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said, referring to a set of proposals submitted in the apex court by eminent lawyer Gopal Subramanium two days ago.
If his suggestions were accepted, it would essentially mean that the temple administration and the control of its immense wealth should be entrusted with the royal house, Vijayan told a press meet today.
Vijayan also criticised the UDF government in the state for not formulating its stand in the case and informing the apex court of it.
Such a move not only went against the democratic shift that had happened after the country became independent but also was not in tune with very history of the temple, he said.
The temple was originally controlled by a body called "ettara yogakkar" and the royal house had very little say in its affairs. It was after the takeover of Travancore by Anizham Tirunal Marthandavarma in the 17th century that the temple was brought under the royal control, he said.
When the inventory of the wealth started a year ago, CPI(M) had made it clear that the administration of the temple should be entrusted with a managing body like those existing in Tirupati and Guruvayoor. A nominee of the royal house could also have a representation on that body, he said.
In the case of the precious articles found in the vaults, they should be categorised into two-- those which are used as part of the temple rituals and those articles which had nothing to do with the ceremonies and rituals.
The second category included offerings made by devotees and the wealth deposited in the temple coffers after seizure of valuables from outside Travancore as a result of the expansion of the kingdom. In the case of this category of wealth, the government should strive to evolve a consensus by taking all political parties into confidence, Vijayan said.
PTI
