The Temple Administrative Committee of the Shree Padmanabha Swamy temple had told the Supreme Court that it is facing a huge financial stress due to insufficient collections of donations. However, the Apex Court said that the procedure should be completed within three months.
Shree Padmanabha Swamy Temple Trust’s plea was declined by the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The plea stated that the temple should be exempted from the audit of 25 years as ordered by the Supreme Court last year.
A bench headed by Justice U U Lalit said that the audit order did not confine to the temple, but the trust as well, he said that the process should be completed as early as possible, three months time has been given to complete the process.
Bench of Justices U U Lalit, S Ravindra Bhat and Bela M Trivedi
“It is clear that the audit contemplated was not intended to be confined to the temple only but with respect to the trust. The direction has to be seen in light of the reports of the amicus curiae in the case as recorded in order dates 2015.”
The Administrative Committee of the temple in Kerala told the Supreme Court on September 17 that it was facing a huge financial stress and the offerings made by the people were not enough to meet the expenses of the temple, while seeking an audit of the temple related trust run by the Travancore Royal family.
The temples of Kerala has been closed since the lockdown and Shree Padmanabha Swamy Temple’s expenses are Rs 1.25 crore and the trust is only able to get 60-70 lakh rupees.
Senior advocate R Basant.
“We are able to hardly get 60-70 lakh rupees. Therefore, we have sought certain directions.”