Agency to assess Padmanabha temple wealth

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The panels deputed by the Supreme Court on Wednesday decided to rope in an expert agency to conduct a scientific assessment of the wealth discovered in the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple.

The expert panel headed by the National Museums vice chancellor, Mr C.V. Ananda Bose, and the inspection panel headed by Justice M.N. Krishnan, held a meeting at the Museum auditorium to take stock of the situation.

Talking to mediapersons after the meeting, Mr Bose said that the second phase of the panel’s work involving the assessment of the wealth would start soon.

“The assessment will be of international standards and will take almost a year to complete,” he said.
Mr Bose added that experts familiar with radiography, neutron activation analysis and software to estimate the age of artifacts will be roped in for the work. “We will inform the SC of our decision,” he said.

The panel has submitted an interim report to the Supreme Court seeking Rs 3 crore funds for its expenses.

Meanwhile, the meeting also deferred the decision on opening the secret cellar B to avoid controversy. At the same time, it decided to go ahead with the assessment of the wealth in the opened cellars.

It may be recalled that the devaprasnam held at the temple by the royal family had warned against assessing the temple wealth. However, the SC asked the panel to go ahead with its work and had criticised the royals for changing their stance.