Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple petitioner passed away

Written and posted by Suresh Kumar BR, based on media reports.

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple petitioner Mr. TP Sunderarajan, aged 70, passed away at his residence, on Sunday early morning 12:45 am.
Mr Sunderarajan was an advocate and a former IPS officer.  He had filed a petition at the Supreme Court and it was based on that petition, that the apex court has ordered the inventory of the temple assets after opening of the vaults of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
Late Mr. Sunderarajan was an IPS officer and worked in the central Intelligence Bureau for many years. He has also served as an officer, in the Prime Minister's security team, to the then Prime Minister late Smt. Indira Gandhi
He gave up his IPS to serve his ailing father and came to stay with his father at his ancestral home near the west entrance of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. 
He gained popularity very recently, when he submitted the petition to the court, for maintaining an inventory of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple assets and he further wanted the Government to take over the management of the Temple from the existing trust. Presently the temple is been managed by the trust of the Travancore Royal family. The Royal family has been managing the temple for 291 years.  
Even though the previous government was not interested to do the same, and the status quo is maintained on management of the temple, the Supreme Court verdict would be crucial.  Believers of the temple all over the world has voiced concern of either the Government taking over the management or the Government taking over.  Many have voiced displeasure through various media, on the Government taking over the  management from the hands of the Royal Family, as the temple has been managed safely and in good condition by the Royal Family.
(Suresh Kumar BR is from Thiruvananthapuram and blogs at www.thesouthreports.com)