SC upholds Travancore family rights to administer Padmanabhaswamy Temple

The Supreme Court on Monday set aside the 2011 verdict of the Kerala High Court directing the state government to set up a trust to take control of management and assets of the historic Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in the state.

The apex court upheld the rights of the Travancore royal family in the administration of the temple.

A bench headed by Justice U U Lalit said that as an interim measure, the District Judge of Thiruvananthapuram will head an administrative committee to manage the affairs of the temple.

The top court delivered the verdict on a batch of appeals, including the one filed by the legal representatives of the Travancore royal family, challenging the January 31, 2011 verdict of the high court in the matter.

The sprawling temple, an architectural splendour in granite, was rebuilt in its present form in the 18th century by the Travancore Royal House which had ruled southern Kerala and some adjoining parts of Tamil Nadu before integration of the princely state with the Indian Union in 1947.