Court seeks source of Kerala temple’s treasure (Lead)
July 7th, 2011 - 12:50 am ICT by IANSNew Delhi, July 6 (IANS) The Supreme Court Wednesday asked the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to examine the source and antiquity of the treasure unearthed from the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple in Kerala’s capital Thiruvananthapuram.
An apex court bench of Justice R.V. Raveendran and Justice A.K. Patnaik asked the ASI to suggest the steps that can be taken to protect the treasure and also where it can be housed. The court also directed the ASI to make video recording of the treasure and photograph them.
Treasure estimated at over Rs.1 lakh crore has been found in five of the six chambers of the 16th century temple that have been opened so far on the instructions of the Supreme Court after a local lawyer alleged poor security and mismanagement by the trust that runs the temple.
The court restrained all the members of the committee appointed by it from speaking to media on the treasure found in the temple.
The court has asked the ASI to appoint a curator to assess the treasure and its antiquity and where it could be housed. There are contentions on the safe keeping of the treasure.
One view is that it could be kept in the temple itself and other view is that a separate museum should be set up for keeping and preserving the treasure.
The apex court directions came in the course of the hearing of a petition by Rama Verma challenging the Kerala High Court verdict directing the state government to take steps to take control of Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple, its assets and management and run the same.
The high court had also directed the state government to exhibit the valuables of the temples to attract the tourists.
- Supreme Court seeks source of Kerala temple treasure - Jul 06, 2011
- Supreme Court bars opening of Kerala temple's sixth vault - Jul 08, 2011
- Apex court names panel to evaluate Kerala temple treasure - Jul 21, 2011
- Apex court asked to keep Kerala temple's vault B shut - Aug 19, 2011
- Apex court reserves verdict on Kerala temple treasure (Lead) - Jul 14, 2011
- Experts begin documenting Kerala temple treasure - Aug 01, 2011
- Kerala temple's Vault B shouldn't be opened, apex court told - Sep 02, 2011
- Supreme Court reserves verdict on Kerala temple treasure - Jul 14, 2011
- Apex Court to examine opening of Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple vault - Mar 29, 2012
- Experts to begin documenting Kerala temple treasure - Jul 31, 2011
- Kerala temple's vault B not to be opened now: Supreme Court - Sep 22, 2011
- As cameras enter Kerala temple, prists plan special prayers - Aug 07, 2011
- Hindu organisations meet July 12 on Kerala temple treasure - Jul 08, 2011
- Don't open Kerala temple's vault B for now: Supreme Court - Sep 16, 2011
- Padmanabhaswamy temple panel to decide Sep 2 on unopened vault - Aug 26, 2011
Tags: 16th century, antiquity, apex, apex court, archaeological survey of india, contentions, court bench, court verdict, crore, curator, kerala high court, mismanagement, padmanabhaswamy temple, poor security, raveendran, rs 1, safe keeping, state government, valuables, video recording