Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Case: Royal family questions Amicus Curiae Gopal Subramaniam report, State of Kerala denies collusion [Read the Affidavits]

Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma, the eldest male member of the erstwhile Royal Family of Travancore and the trustee of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court after a report was submitted by the Amicus Curiae in the matter.

The affidavit, filed on November 6, questions the report and says that the report by Gopal Subramaniam has damaged the reputation of the erstwhile royal family.  It also says, 'the ld. Amicus Curiae has gone on television and given interviews tending to denigrate the trustee and members of the erstwhile royal family."

The affidavit also labels the charge that Gopal Subramaniam exceeded his authority as amicus curiae and that the contents of his report are false. Moonal Thirunal Rama Varma in his affidavit has also submitted that Gopal Subramaniam performed illegal acts, such as 'taking photographs of the Fort Palace.'

The affidavit also claims that the persons accompanying Gopal Subramaniam during his 34-day stay in the temple city would have prejudiced him; the reasons for the same have been enumerated in a table drawn in the affidavit.

The affidavit also says that the recommendations made by Amicus Curiae 'have caused a huge resentment among the Bhaktas insofar as it touches upon this religious faith, belief and devotion.' The affidavit also quotes the report submitted by Gopal Subramaniam at various places and gives point wise reply.

Meanwhile, the State of Kerala, through its Chief Secretary has also filed an affidavit in the matter. The affidavit filed by Advocate Liz Mathew, states that after the discovery of treasure in the temple, after the orders of the Supreme Court, the State has provided state of the art security to the temple. The affidavit also states, 'State is also incurring an annual recurring expenditure of approximately 3.46 crores towards the salary of police personnel. The considered stand of the Government, is that it cannot and do not intent to burden the said expenditure to the public exchequer.'

The State has also denied collusion with the royal family, as was mentioned in the report by Gopal Subramaniam. It has also submitted that 'wealth is exclusively the temple property and is inalienable except for the benefit of the temple and devotees of the temple.'

Reportedly, the matter is going to come up for hearing on November 11.

More about Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple case can be read below

Supreme Court Directions in Padmanabha Swamy Temple Case.

Gopal Subramanium withdraws resignation.

K P Indira takes over as administrator of Padmanabhaswamy temple.