Want comprehensive probe into gold thefts at the Padmanabha Swamy temple: CPI (M)

 

The Amicus Curiae Gopal Subramoniam is a respected personality in the judicial profession, who was also former Solicitor-General. He has reported that even as the Supreme Court-supervised valuation of temple assets was ongoing, the erstwhile Royal family of Travancore pilferred gold out of the temple premises. This is totally shocking. The Amicus Curiae has further informed the Supreme Court that the Royal family had shifted gold out of the temple by mixing it with sand and loading it into lorries. He has also provided a detailed list of misdemeanors and misappropriations by the Royal family in this regard. In this context, he has recommended that the Royal family be excused from the management of the temple and an autonomous governing council be formed. The new governing council should be formed without any delay in order to prevent further loss of precious temple assets. The State government should represent to the Supreme Court to do this at the earliest. There should also be no delay in completing the temple-asset valuation process, which aims at listing the temple's assets and valuing each of them.

Till date, the management of the temple was with the Travancore royal family. The Supreme Court is currently hearing the appeal on a High Court ruling that an institution like the Devaswam Board be created to replace the present management of the temple. 

Meanwhile, opposition leader V. S. Achuthanandan has alleged that there was an unholy alliance between the UDF government and the Travancore Royal family. He said that when he raised the issue of gold theft at the temple two years back, the government had mocked him. However, his earlier allegations have been proven credible with the present report of the Amicus Curiae. He also congratulated the Amicus Curiae for presenting a bold report to the Supreme Court.