Court flags HR&CE’s involvement
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday expressed dissatisfaction over the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department’s involvement in the proposed measurement of the Tirupparankundram hill in Madurai, asking what role the department has in the exercise.
The observation came during the hearing of a contempt petition filed by Ramesh. In an earlier order, a Division Bench had directed the Madurai Collector to carry out the measurement of the hill through Revenue Department officials, in coordination with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and to file a report after completion.
Appearing for HR&CE, senior counsel Gopal Sankaranarayanan told the court that the HR&CE Commissioner had challenged the measurement direction before the Supreme Court. He said the Supreme Court permitted the department to file an application in the pending contempt proceedings before the High Court and raise the same contentions there.
The counsel also submitted that measuring the entire hill may not be feasible and argued that the High Court’s earlier direction went beyond the relief sought by the petitioner. Seeking time to file an intervention petition, he requested an adjournment.
The Bench, comprising Justices G.R. Swaminathan and S. Sreemathy, said the earlier direction was issued to safeguard temple properties and noted that the matter involved the temple, a dargah and the ASI. The case was adjourned to September 25, granting time to HR&CE to file its intervention plea.
