New Delhi:
The Supreme Court today advised the Travancore Royal family not to rely on the ritual astrological prediction - Devaprasnam - while deciding on the opening of the secret vault of Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple.
The Royal family had told the court that as per the Devaprasnam, opening of the secret vault would spell doom and should not be opened.
The royal family said this in an application before an apex court bench of Justice RV Raveendran and Justice AK Patnaik.
However, the Supreme Court said that the religious sentiments should be respected and protected.
The application said the opening of vault B and videographing and photographing of temple treasures to prepare a catalogue was against the traditions and practices of the temple and its believers.
The court expressed surprise when it was told that the expert committee appointed by it left the decision to open or not to open vault B of the temple to its head priest.
It wondered how could the committee which was mandated to take the decision outsource it.
Meanwhile, the court was given the local court commissioner's report on the temple treasure.
The apex court will now take up the matter September 12.