Under the instructions of the Supreme Court, officials today opened four of the 6 secret chambers of the centuries-old Anantha padmanabha swamy temple in Tiruvananthapuram in Kerala in the presence of observers to take inventory of the priceless jewels and articles of rare antiquity which were said to be lying there for a long time.

 

While the media was not allowed inside, the exercise was completed in the presence of Justices M.N. Krishnan and C.S. Rajan who came as observers of the Supreme Court.

 

Additional Chief Secretary K.Jayakumar, temple executive officer Harikumar, petitioner T.P. Sundararajan, an Archaeology Department official and two representatives of Travancore King Marthandavarma were also present while the chambers were opened to take the inventory and present the report to the Supreme Court.

 

The chambers, located in the cellar, remained closed for several decades now but the Supreme Court ordered their opening on a petition filed by TP Sundararajan. Police were deployed in large numbers in the temple premises as a precautionary measure during the operation.

 

The officials said they will open the other two chambers in the cellar very soon. A date is yet to be fixed for the purpose, an official said.