Mixed response to SC order on Padmanabhaswamy temple

The Supreme Court's decision to entrust the administration of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple to a five-member committee Thursday evoked mixed response from political parties in Kerala.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the state government will follow the directive of the apex court.

"We will follow the Supreme Court's directive and there will be no two opinions on that. The Kerala government has always taken a fair stand on the issue. We do not subscribe to maligning the erstwhile Travancore royal family, who all these years took care of the precious wealth of the temple," said Chandy.

Leader of Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan expressed happiness over the court order.

"The state government and the royal family should apologise to the devotees as they were hand in glove. What the amicus curiae pointed out was accepted by the court. The audit to be done by the former CAG is also a very good directive," said Achuthanandan.

State Bharatiya Janata Party vice president A.T. Ramesh, however, expressed surprise, saying why only temples were being targeted.

"In Kerala, there are numerous disputes in religious places other than Hindu places, but there the court is not making any effort to intervene. How come a court can ensure that rituals and traditions of a temple are taken care of?" Ramesh said.