A temporary administrative committee of the Padmanabhaswamy temple informed the Supreme Court on Friday that the temple shall be unable to return the 11.7 crores spent by the state for security and maintenance. Citing the lack of donations due to the pandemic as the reason, the committee requested more time, reports NDTV.
In July 2020, the SC had constituted the committee following its verdict that the royal family of Thiruvananthapuram has rights over the temple's administration. The temple was under the state government since 2011 following a ruling by the Kerala High Court. The committee was formed to manage the affairs of the temple until the royal family made other arrangements.
The Court has left it upon the Kerala government to consider the request.