Thiruvananthapuram 29 August : One day after former Supreme Court judge Justice Indu Malhotra stated that Communist governments are “taking over” Hindu temples, Kerala Minister for Devasoms K.Radhakrishnan said that the comment was unsubstantiated and devoid of facts and is false.Radhakrishnan attacked the former judge who made the comment shortly after visiting the renowned Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple, said to be the richest temple in the world.He also said that no one from the Communist party or the Left government has ever done something like this.
“It was the Left government that was the first to make sure that the properties of temples is returned to them.Not to mention , they ensured that a portion of those who were not allowed access to temples today works as temple workers,” said Radhakrishnan.
“None should or should forget that it was the Left government that offered help to of temple employees during the period of the worst floods ever in 2018 and in 2019 during the time that Covid struck.The government of India allocated funds to help the temple workers in the budget of the state .After all the work necessary, this comment ought not to be said,” added Radhakrishnan.
In actuality the judge who retired in 2020 when he was sitting on a division bench of the apex court , along with the Chief Justice of India, U.U.Lalit changed the order of the 2011 Kerala High Court order, which had stated the rights of the royal family to the renowned Sree Padmnabha Swamy temple ceased with the death of the last ruler of Travancore, Sree Chithira Thirunal, in 1991.
The bench made the decision to establish an expert committee which would continue to oversee the temple’s operations until the royal family formed an official committee.
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