Order
1. Issue notice. Mr P.B Suresh, the learned counsel of M/s Temple Law Firm, accepts notice for Respondent 1 (T.P Sundara Rajan).
2. Interim stay of Direction (i) of the impugned judgment which directs taking over the assets and management of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram.
3. Interim stay of Directions (ii) to (iv) of the impugned judgment subject to the following interim directions:
(a) There shall be a detailed inventory of the articles/valuables/ornaments in Kallaras described as (a) to (f) in the Second Schedule to the plaint in OS No. 625 of 2007 on the file of the Sub-Judge, Thiruvananthapuram. The inventory shall be held in the presence of the following observers:
(i) Two observers appointed by this Court, namely, Justice M.N Krishnan and Justice C.S Rajan, retired Judges of the Kerala High Court.
(ii) The first petitioner and the second petitioner.
(iii) A senior officer of the State Government, namely, the Secretary, Devaswom Department or his nominated representative.
(iv) A senior officer nominated by the Secretary, Department of Archaeology, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, who is stationed at Kerala.
(v) The PIL petitioner (first respondent).
Justice M.N Krishnan shall be incharge of organising the inventory, fixing of schedules. The entire expenditure of inventory shall be met by the petitioners. He is also authorised to seek police security at the time of such inventory. The observers shall decide upon the procedure and documentation of the inventory including videographing and photographing the articles.
(b) In regard to the articles in Kallaras (c) and (d) used for regular rituals and the ornaments, etc. in Kallaras (e) and (f) said to be in the custody of Periya Nambi and Thekkedom Nambi, the existing practices, procedures and rituals may be followed in regard to the opening and closing of the Kallaras and using the articles therein. As far as Kallaras (a) and (b), which is reportedly not opened for more than a century, they shall be opened only for the purpose of making inventory of the articles and then closed and sealed again.
(c) The inventory shall be filed in this Court and copies of the inventory be given to all the participating parties and observers.
(d) The existing temple security shall be further strengthened by additional security from the local police.
(e) The first petitioner and his family shall be entitled to participate in all temple festivals and rituals as hitherto before.
4. Let a copy of this order be sent to Justice M.N Krishnan, Justice C.S Rajan, the Secretary, Devaswom Department, State of Kerala and the Secretary, Department of Archaeology, Government of India for due implementation.
5. List in August 2011 for further orders.
Court Masters