SC ordered audit of Sree Padmanabha temple under supervision of former CAG Vinod Rai

The Supreme Court of India on 24 April 2014 ordered that the special audit of property, assets and accounts of Kerala’s Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple under the supervision of the former Comptroller and Audit General of India, Vinod Rai.

The bench of the Supreme Court comprised of Justice RM Lodha and Justice AK Patnaik has ordered to constitute a new administrative five-member committee headed by the District Judge of Thiruvananthapuram. The five members of the committee includes
• The Thiruvananthapuram district judge
• A tantri of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy tem
• Chief Nambi of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple
• Other two members of the committee will be appointed in consultation with the state government

The Court also appointed a senior IAS officer and former administrator of the Guruvayoor temple as the executive officer of the temple. These orders were given by the bench of Supreme Court comprised by Justice RM Lodha and Justice AK Patnaik.

The Court in its decision said that the trustees of the temple had failed badly and there is a need to change them. It also found that there are certain disturbing features like financial irregularities and extremely serious issues and there is a requirement of immediate redressal.

It has warned that no employee should be intimidated by the members of the royal family.

The Supreme Court was apprised by the senior advocate Gopal Subramaniam, who appeared as amicus curiae in the matter about 15 April 2014 report that has highlighted several irregularities in the management of the temple and its wealth.