Kerala temple trust to face 25 yrs’ audit: SC

Gives 3 months’ time for the audit to be completed

The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined a plea filed by Shree Padmanabha Swamy temple trust, run by the Travancore royal family, seeking to exempt it from the audit of 25 years as ordered by the top court last year. A Bench headed by Justice U U Lalit said the audit should be completed as early as possible, preferably within three months.

“It is clear that the audit contemplated was not intended to be confined to the temple only but with respect to the trust. This direction has to be seen in light of the reports of the amicus curiae in the case as recorded in order dated 2015,” said the bench, also comprising Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Bela M Trivedi.

The court, however, refrained from passing any order on the plea of the trust to exempt it from the administrative supervision of the Administrative Committee constituted by it saying that it requires factual analysis.

The Administrative Committee of the Shree

Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala had on September 17 told the apex court that it is in great financial stress and the offerings are not sufficient to meet the expenses, while seeking an audit of the templerelated trust run by the Travancore royal family. All temples in Kerala are closed and while this temple’s monthly expenses are ~1.25 crore, “we are able to hardly get ~60-70 lakh. Therefore, we have sought certain directions,” senior advocate R Basant, appearing for the committee, had said. The temple is in great financial stress and “we are not able to function”, Basant had said.