Kerala High Court Issues Stern Directive on Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Idol Restoration
The Kerala High Court has taken a firm stance against any further delays in addressing the structural defects identified in the moolavigraham (principal idol) of the renowned Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. On Tuesday, a bench comprising Justices Devan Ramachandran and M B Snehalatha expressed its impatience with the prolonged inaction, emphasizing that the court cannot tolerate additional postponements in the crucial restoration work.
Court Demands Clear Timelines and Execution Plans
In a decisive move, the bench directed the temple's competent authorities, including the tanthri (chief priest), to submit comprehensive reports outlining specific timelines and detailed execution strategies for each component of the restoration project. The court has adjourned the matter to February 9 for further review, expecting these reports to be furnished promptly.
The High Court was hearing petitions filed by R Rajasekharan Pillai of Kayamkulam and other devotees, who sought judicial intervention to compel the temple's administrative committee to rectify the defects in the main idol. Previously, the temple authorities had cited the ongoing murajapam ritual and lakshadeepam ceremony as reasons for requesting additional time, which the court had granted.
Rituals Concluded, Restoration Must Proceed Without Delay
During Tuesday's proceedings, the court noted that the 56-day-long murajapam ritual and the subsequent lakshadeepam ceremony have now concluded. Consequently, the bench asserted that there are no valid grounds for further delays, and the restoration work must proceed within the stipulated timelines. However, the counsel representing the temple executive committee raised concerns about practical challenges, particularly regarding the assessment of shilpis (sculptors) by an expert committee.
In response, the High Court highlighted that the issue has been dragging on for over seven or eight years since the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on related matters. The bench made it unequivocally clear that all necessary restoration activities must be completed within the timeframes to be specified by the court, underscoring the urgency of preserving the temple's heritage.
The court's directive aims to ensure accountability and expedite the long-pending restoration of the sacred idol, which holds immense religious and cultural significance for devotees across Kerala and beyond.
