Padmanabha temple treasure: Gopal Subramanium asked to reconsider decision to quit as amicus, Salve appears for royal family

The Supreme Court today requested Senior Advocate Gopal Subramanium to reconsider his decision to quit as amicus curiae in the Padmanabha Swamy Temple matter. Subramanium had earlier written a letter to the Supreme Court requesting permission to discontinue as amicus. It was the latest by Subramanium in a series of refusals to associate with the Supreme Court after the controversy over his elevation to the Bench.

Like the previous hearing, there was much excitement today as well with Senior Advocate Harish Salve appearing for members of the royal family. Salve attacked the amicus report submitted by Subramanium stating that serious allegations have been raised in the report and if the court takes into consideration the report, then the family members should be heard.

However, advocate PB Suresh, representing a group of devotees, took objection to Salve’s remarks and said that the amicus should not be attacked especially when he is not present in court. He also said that Salve had no locus as his client was not a party to the matter.

Senior Advocate KK Venugopal, who represents the Maharaja of the Palace, also took objection to the allegations in the report. Venugopal alleged that Subramanium went to the temple situated at Trivandrum without any directions from the court. Alleging that the act of breaking open vaults and safes belonging to the members of royal family were totally unwarranted, Venugopal said that,

“This is like CBI investigation…as if an FIR had been registered after a crime was committed. This is all detective work….A family which has donated all its valuables to the temple have now been accused of stealing everything.”

Venugopal also criticized the report on the ground that it contained half baked allegations. Venugopal had criticized the report in strong words even during the previous hearing. However, Justice Lodha who was hearing the matter then had taken objection to that and had said that it will not allow such attack on the amicus.

The Court after hearing Venugopal, directed copies of various reports including the one submitted by former Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai to be given to the Appellants. On a request by advocate PB Suresh, the Court also recorded that a communication be sent to Subramanium seeking reconsideration of his decision to quit. The Court has also issued notice in impleadment petitions filed by various interested parties including the Royal family members.

Meanwhile, the matter has been shunted to another Bench. A Division Bench comprising Justice Thakur and Justice Anil R Dave heard the matter today while previously, the matter was being heard by a Bench presided by Justice Lodha. It is not clear why Justice Lodha has transferred the case to another Bench.

The case will now be heard on November 11. 

Image of Harish Salve taken from here.