Kerala:SC panel starts valuating riches of Padmanabha temple

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 2: After much speculation, the Supreme Court has pronounced its verdict on the plans that need to be carried out to scientifically evaluate the massive wealth at the famed Sri Padmanabha temple in Kerala. The temple rose to the limelight after a treasure trove worth an estimated Rs 1 lakh crore was unearthed from the six secret cellars within the temple premises.

The panel set up by the Supreme Court will assess the temple property and will conduct a preliminary examination of the five opened cellars that yielded the spectacular riches. The detailed assessment is only expected a few days later.

The expert panel headed by C V Ananda Bose, who is the National Museum Institute vice chancellor stated that the meeting discussed the modalities of going about the assessment. He refused to clarify the matter further.

Plans are also in place to videograph the wealth in the cellars based on a directive by the SC, the matter that has not been decided upon due to objections from devotees. There is also no decision made on the opening of the controversial cellar B after rumours erupted that the opening of this vault might invite the deity's wrath.

The other members of the panel are B V Raja representing the Archeological Survey of India, Vikas Sharma from the Reserve Bank of India, M V Nair, head of the department of conservation of the National Museum Institute and temple executive V K Harikumar.

The SC has also sought that the panel divide the treasures in three categories namely classifying artifacts and jewelery that has historical and archeological value; those articles used for usual temple rituals and the third category comprising of items that do not fall under the earlier stated two categories.

OneIndia News