Shouldn't open Kerala temple's vault B, SC told

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court was Friday told by the Travancore royal family that the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple's vault B should not be opened and the treasures unearthed earlier not videographed or photographed as it was against the temple traditions and practices.

The royal family said this in an application before an apex court bench of Justice R.V. Raveendran and Justice A.K. Patnaik.

The application said the opening of vault B and videographing and photographing of temple treasures to prepare a catalogue was against the traditions and practices of the temple and its believers.

The court expressed surprise when it was told that the expert committee appointed by it left the decision to open or not to open vault B of the temple to its head priest.

It wondered how could the committee which was mandated to take the decision outsource it.

Meanwhile, the court was given the local court commissioner's report on the temple treasure.

The apex court will now take up the matter Sep 12.