Padmanabhaswamy Temple – Destruction of Heritage

Shri Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu in anantha sayanam posture (in an eternal sleep on the serpent Anantha), located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Administration of the Temple has been in charge of the Ruler of Travancore and his successors since time immemorial and Lord Padmanabhaswamy is the tutelary deity of the Travancore Royal family. The Temple has been in news for the treasure preserved in its Vaults and attempts of Kerala Government to take over its administration. Currently a petition is under consideration by the Hon’ble Supreme Court challenging the Kerala High Court judgment and maladministration charges.

The Indic Collective Trust filed an Intervention Petition (I.A. No. 53026/2018) and Stay Application (I.A. No. 58289/2018) before the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the Padmanabhaswamy Temple case (S.L.P. (C) No. 11295/2011) seeking stay of the demolition of heritage structures within the Temple Complex by the Supreme Court-appointed Kerala State Nirmithi Kendra. Pursuant to the said application, the Hon’ble Court vide its Order dated April 27, 2018 granted Indic Collective Trust the liberty to raise the issue before the Committee appointed by the Supreme Court under the Chairmanship of Justice (retd.) K.S.P. Radhakrishnan. Accordingly, ICT had made a representation to the said Committee seeking (a) stay of the so-called renovation being undertaken by the Kerala State Nirmithi Kendra, (b) assessment of damage to the heritage structures by the Kendra and (c) attribution of liability for the damage caused.

The stay was granted by the Hon’ble Court.