The state of Kerala has suggested to the supreme court that instead of the government taking over the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple administration, the Guruvaryuru-model-administration would be suitable for proper management.
The temple was built and managed by the former rulers of Travancore. The head of the former royal family still controls the temple, unlike other temples in Kerala which are managed by the government. Due to allegations that the royal family of Travancore has failed to manage the temple wealth, it was suggested that the state government should take over the temple administration.
Filing its response before the court, which is hearing a plea against the mismanagement of the temple administration and its wealth, the Kerala government has said that a model replicating the management of the ancient Guruvayur temple can be worked out.
In the affidavit, filed by State Chief Secretary Bharat Bhushan, the government said "It is submitted that if the Guruvayur model is replicated in case of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, then the erstwhile royal family of Travancore can be given representation in the Managing Committee by reserving one slot on a permanent basis and the Tantri could be the other permanent member."
Further, the government said " it was prepared to examine the feasibility of bringing forward a legislation on the lines of the Guruvayur Devaswom Act, 1978."
Under this statute, a nine-member panel called the Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee was constituted. It has three permanent members, the Zamorin Raja of Calicut, the head of the Mallissery family, and the Tantri (head priest). Six non-permanent members are nominated to the panel by Hindus among the Council of Ministers, which include a representative of the Devaswom employees and a Scheduled Caste person.
Denying all allegations, the government said the court was mislead by the Amicus Curiae Gopal Subramaniam who had alleged the state's collusion with royal family.
About other allegations particularly in relation to cleaning of temple tanks and administration of its finances, the affidavit said that steps had been initiated to clean the Padmatheertham and Mithranandapuram tanks in the way recommended by a Delhi University Professor C R Babu, who was appointed by the Apex Court earlier.
The government has claimed that Rs 13.46 crore has been spent on providing state-of-the-art security cover to the temple and its treasures.
It said the proposed new legislation would reduce the expenses of the government towards security provided for the temple and its treasures. It said once a managing committee was constituted, the entire expenditure, including salaries of security personnel, would be the liability of the temple, and not the public exchequer. The government spends approximately Rs 3.46 crore annually in payment of salaries to the security personnel
Last week, the members of the royal family had moved an application before the court seeking its permission to be impleaded in the matter.
They have objected to certain adverse inferences made by Subramaniam in his report submitted to court.
Besides Amicus, former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Vinod Rai, who was appointed by the court to audit the temple accounts and assts, in his interim report has said that gold vessels and silver ingots were taken out of B Nillavara (Bharathakone kallara) in the past and there is lack of financial control of the custody and use of precious article.
The Apex court has fixed November 11 to hear the matter.
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