Temple Treasure: Sparks fly in court room 2 as KKV, Salve target Amicus Gopal Subramanium; Subramanium offers to recuse, SC turns down again

Sparks flew in court room 2 of the Supreme Court today as charged up arguments and counter arguments by three Senior lawyers lit up the hearing in the Padmanabha Swamy temple matter..Justice Thakur who is presiding the hearing, had a tough time reining in the three lawyers, Senior advocates KK Venugopal, Harish Salve and Gopal Subramanium..The subject of dissent between Subramanium on one hand and Venugopal and Salve on the other was the report submitted by Subramanium in his capacity as the Amicus Curiae and his allegedly prejudicial conduct in the case..As soon as the Special Bench, comprising Justice Thakur and Justice Anil R Dave, began hearing the matter at 3 pm, KK Venugopal appearing for the King vociferously sought for “guidelines for the functioning of the Amicus”..“He has completely destroyed the reputation of the royal family; giving interviews to Television channels and making insinuations. Before further damage is done, some guidelines should be laid down by this court with respect to his functioning”, said Venugopal..The Court said that it will hear the Amicus and then give the others an opportunity. Subsequently, Subramanium proceeded to outline the recommendations he had made in the report while also justifying his conduct,.“I have acted exactly as an Amicus should have acted. I am pained to hear such statements.”.KK Venugopal immediately shot back saying that.“I have the greatest regard for him personally but cannot approve what has happened in this case….he has given TV interviews and has made insinuations in the report which has destroyed the reputation of the Royal family.… A dead body was found in the temple pond and insinuations have been made regarding that. But the police had investigated the case and found nothing against the Royal family.He interferes in the rituals of the temple and tries to be an investigator digging up floor for secret passages.”.Soon, Salve, appearing for the Royal family also joined the party. Taking objection to the recommendation in the report seeking the ouster of the King from the management of the temple, he said,.“Look at his first recommendation in the report…kick the trustee out!!”.Justice Thakur then responded to the drama..“What do you want then? Remove him from the capacity of Amicus? You seem very agitated today Mr. Venugopal unlike your usual self”, he remarked..“I am not saying that he should be removed. We want some guidelines regarding his functioning. For the last ten years, I don’t think I have been so agitated your lordship”, was Venugopal’s response..Subramanium then offered to recuse from his capacity as the Amicus Curiae..“If I see something with my own eyes, then am I not entitled to come back and report it to the Court? Am I supposed to remain silent? If this is what is happening, I don’t want to continue. I am ashamed and pained”, he said..Justice Thakur, however, turned it down saying that Subramanium was acting in the best interests of the temple only..KK Venugopal and Salve then agreed that they would respond to the recommendations made in the report of the Amicus Curiae and inform the Court regarding the recommendations which they agree with..The Court recorded the same and fixed the next hearing for November 27..Subramanium had earlier relieved himself from his role as the Amicus Curiae though the Supreme Court had requested him to reconsider the decision. He had, subsequently, changed his mind and returned in that capacity..Image of Harish Salve taken from here.