The Supreme Court will on Monday pronounce its final verdict on the on right of management of the famous Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple.
The controversy over the administration and management of the historic temple has been pending in the apex court for last nine years in the wake of charges of alleged financial irregularities.
The decade-long legal battle is expected to decide whether or not members of the erstwhile Trvancore family retain their control over the temple. At present, the temple is managed by an independent body, which is supervised by the government.
The SC may also decide on whether the infamous B vault of the temples can be opened.
The Travancore Royal family had opposed the move by expert committee to open and examine the contents of B vault. Over the years, they have claimed that the vault hasn’t been opened for ages and changing that may lead to catastrophe in the state.
The Supreme Court-appointed amicus curie, Gopal Rai, and the CAG had however deposed that the vault has been opened a few times during 1990 and 2002.
There have also been allegations that the treasure, including gold, is siphoned off from the temple.
A plea in this regard was filed by T P Sunder Rajan, stating that the treasure should be assessed and the government should take over the temple.
The sprawling temple 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.
Since 2011, an expert committee appointed by courts opened and examined the treasures in the five vaults of the temple. The treasures are valued to be over 1 lakh crores, making Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple one of richest temples in the country.
