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SC defers decision on Kerala Temple till Sep 21
The Supreme Court on Friday deferred its decision on opening the Vault B of Kerala`s Padmanabhaswamy Temple till September 21.
Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday deferred its decision on opening the Vault B of Kerala’s Padmanabhaswamy Temple till September 21.
The apex court also made it clear that its decision to keep the Vault B closed for now is not because of local superstition that warns of bad luck if the vault is forced open.
The court also ruled out giving any weight to a recent ritual performed - the `Devaprasnam - which priests describe as an astrological referendum that also suggests Vault B should remain off-limits.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court-appointed expert committee, which submitted its report to it yesterday, has raised security concerns ahead of the opening of the secret cellar.
The SC-appointed panel has requested the apex court to deploy more CRPF troops to protect the temple wealth.
The panel said in its report that secret vault must not be opened until proper security arrangements are put in place. The panel also suggested keeping the treasure inside the temple.
Importantly, the Travancore royal family, who have been the custodians of the temple since ages, had told the court that Vault B should not be opened and the treasures unearthed earlier not videographed or photographed as it was against the temple traditions and practices. The treasure trove of precious jewels is estimated to be worth more than Rs.1 lakh crore.
In all there are six vault in the temple of which five have been opened based on a petition filed by a former Indian Police Service (IPS) official TP Sunderarajan and it was in July that the Supreme Court appointed committee stumbled upon the treasure from the vault A which was unopened for more than 150 years.
Sunderarajan passed away suddenly on July 17 after brief illness.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday deferred its decision on opening the Vault B of Kerala’s Padmanabhaswamy Temple till September 21.
The apex court also made it clear that its decision to keep the Vault B closed for now is not because of local superstition that warns of bad luck if the vault is forced open.
The court also ruled out giving any weight to a recent ritual performed - the `Devaprasnam - which priests describe as an astrological referendum that also suggests Vault B should remain off-limits.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court-appointed expert committee, which submitted its report to it yesterday, has raised security concerns ahead of the opening of the secret cellar.
The SC-appointed panel has requested the apex court to deploy more CRPF troops to protect the temple wealth.
The panel said in its report that secret vault must not be opened until proper security arrangements are put in place. The panel also suggested keeping the treasure inside the temple.
Importantly, the Travancore royal family, who have been the custodians of the temple since ages, had told the court that Vault B should not be opened and the treasures unearthed earlier not videographed or photographed as it was against the temple traditions and practices. The treasure trove of precious jewels is estimated to be worth more than Rs.1 lakh crore.
In all there are six vault in the temple of which five have been opened based on a petition filed by a former Indian Police Service (IPS) official TP Sunderarajan and it was in July that the Supreme Court appointed committee stumbled upon the treasure from the vault A which was unopened for more than 150 years.
Sunderarajan passed away suddenly on July 17 after brief illness.