Vault B to retain its mystery, for now

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the seven-membered committee appointed by it not to open vault ‘B’ of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram until further orders. The vault is believed to be containing a large quantity of jewellery and other valuables.A Bench comprising Justice R V Raveendran and Justice A K Patnaik restrained the panel from opening the vault.It asked petitioner Raja Marthanda Varma, erstwhile prince of Travancore, and the Kerala Government to come up with suggestions for the security of the temple.The Bench posted the matter to next Thursday for further hearing.During the hearing, senior counsel K K Venugopal, appearing for Marthanda Varma, submitted that the temple was a public property and no member of the royal family had any right over it. “The property belongs to Lord Padmanabhaswamy,” he added.The royal family, which is the temple trustee, had challenged the Kerala Government’s decision to take over its administration. Initially, it challenged the decision in the Kerala High Court on January 31. When it upheld the move, the family moved the apex court.The Bench said that at the moment, its prime concern was the safety and sanctity of the temple.The Bench concurred with Venugopal’s submission that the value of the treasure found in the vaults as presented by the media was based on speculation.The treasure found so far is estimated to be worth Rs 1 lakh crore.