Additional District Sessions Judge, Thiruvananthapuram, K P. Indira on Saturday took charge as head of a five-member committee to administer the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple.
She arrived at the temple at 6 p.m. and spent over 3 hours holding discussions with the temple staff.
She received the keys of the underground vaults and the side rooms from the former executive officer Col. Bhuvanachandran Nair and other temple authorities.
S. J. Jayaram, legal adviser, Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple, told The Hindu that a member of the royal family, Adithya Varma, had promised to hand over the key of the vault inside the palace.
In its report, Amicus curiae Gopal Subramanian had suggested entrusting the temple administration to a five-member committee, which included the temple tantri, nambi (chief priest) and two members to be nominated by the State government and the royal family.
The amicus curiae had recommended that the vaults should be sealed and its keys handed over to the judge.
Ms. Indira received the order appointing her as head of the committee on Friday.
