Tamil Nadu government nod must for renovating ancient temples, rules Madras high court

TNN | Nov 18, 2018, 08.30 AM IST

CHENNAI: Declining to set aside a notification issued by the state government mandating approval from state level heritage screening committee to carry out renovations in temples, the Madras high court has made it clear that only the committee can decide whether a temple is of heritage value or not.
“It is very clear that temples not more than 100 years old will not fall under the purview of notification. But the issue as to whether the temple is ancient, or is of heritage value or not, has to be decided only by the committee and not by anyone else. Only the committee will examine the archaeological and architectural value/ ancientness of the temple and arrive at a conclusion, as to whether permission is required or not,” a division bench of Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad said.

The bench made the observation while disposing of a plea moved by Trichy-based Sendalankara Jeer Trust to quash a notification dated February 14, 2017, in so far as its application to non-heritage and non-ancient temples under the administrative control of the HR&CE department.

According to the petitioner, it prohibits all renovation and repair work in temples in Tamil Nadu without obtaining prior approval from the government. “Though the notification is only for ancient and heritage temples, it actually states that no repair or renovation should be carried out in any temple without obtaining prior approval of the heritage committee. But temples which are not ancient, and heritage should not require the approval of the heritage committee,” he contended.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/trichy/govt-nod-must-for-renovating-ancient-temples-rules-hc/articleshowprint/66673795.cms

Pithapuram: The divine abode - Puruhootika Devi temple

By Aruna Ravikumar | THE HANS INDIA |   Nov 11,2018 , 12:55 AM IST

Puruhootika Devi temple

It is not just scenes from the epics and Puranas etched on stone and the architectural splendour that holds your attention. The splash of colour embellishing different sculptures within and outside the temple complex stand out in stark contrast to the light-coloured walls and the gopuram or the main entrance.

Birds delicately perched on the branches of the sacred Audambara tree add to the allure as does the pushkarini (pond) at the entrance. The huge temple complex of ‘‘Kukkuteshwara Swamy” in Pithapuram in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh said to be one of the oldest and most sacred pilgrimage centres in India has a distinctly different feel to it. It beckons not just the devout but those interested in history, folklore and architecture.

With the history of the region dating back to the 5th century, architecture is said to be influenced by the style of the Vishnukundin and Chalukya dynasties. Referred to as “Pithikapuram” in the Puranas it is one of the Ashta dasha (18) Shakti peethas or places where body parts of Goddess Sati Devi fell. Driving down from Kakinada, on the wide well-maintained road with the sparse morning traffic, we found ourselves inside the temple well ahead of the half an hour travel time mentioned by the locals. The temple referred to as “Dakshina Gaya” or “Pada Gaya” is of three-fold importance as a Shiva Kshetra, a Shakti peetham and the birthplace of Sripada Vallabha one of the first incarnations of Lord Dattatreya.

As soon as we enter the temple, we see the mandapam housing the huge horizontal statue of Gayasura, a powerful and pious asura on whose body Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara are performing a yagna. His body was said to be so huge that his head rested in Bihar, body in Orissa and feet touched Pithapuram. Legend has it that Gayasura, who had become all-powerful had usurped Indra’s position as the King of the God’s and the trinity approached Gayasura disguised as Brahmins in response to Indra’s penance.

They asked Gayasura for a place to perform the Yagna upon which Gayasura offered his body as a venue. The Gods agreed on the condition that they would slay him if he got up before the completion of the yagna. Gayasura was tricked into believing that the yagna was completed on the 7th day when he heard a rooster crow at “midnight” and was slain.

This is where Gayasuras feet fell and is known as “Pada Gaya”, where visiting devotees are said to gain moksha or liberation. Kukkuteswara Swamy, a form of Lord Shiva is the presiding deity, who reveals himself in the form a swayambhu (self-originating) marble lingam of two-feet height, resembling a “kukkutam” (rooster). Facing Kukkteshwara Swamy is a huge “Eka Sila Nandi” (bull) carved out of a single stone.

To the Northeast corner of the temple is the black stone idol of Goddess “Puruhootika Devi” with the temple walls carved with the 18 incarnations of the goddess. The idols of “Hoonkarini Devi” and “Raja Rajeshwari’’ are among the several smaller shrines to various gods and goddesses that are nestled inside. Behind these shrines is the “Sripada Vallabha” kshetra, the incarnation of Dattatreya and the Audamabar tree where devotees pray with fervour for fulfilling their wishes. 

Source: https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Sunday-Hans/2018-11-11/Pithapuram-The-divine-abode/440116

File report on rental dues to temples: Madras High Court

The petitioner had lodged a series of grievance petitions, all relating to various instances of mismanagement of Sri Pasupatheeswarar temple at Pandanallur and its other temples.

Published: 04th November 2018 01:29 AM  |   Last Updated: 04th November 2018 10:28 AM   |  A+A A-

Madras HC (File | PTI)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A division bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) department to file a report with regard to the rental arrears due to all temples in the State.

A bench of Justices S Mahadevan and P D Audikesavalu gave the directive when a PIL petition from R Venkataraman of Jai Balaji Nagar here came up last week.

The petition prayed for a directive to the government to constitute a commission headed by a retired judge of the High Court to conduct enquiries to resolve the grievances of petitioners, pending before the department and dispose them off as per a GO dated September 21, 2015. The GO, among other things, stipulated that the grievances of the complainants should be redressed, either this way or that, within a maximum of one month with a speaking order and the complainant should be informed of the reasons for seeking additional time for enquiry, if any, by the department.

According to petitioner, he had lodged a series of grievance petitions with the department, all relating to various instances of mismanagement of Sri Pasupatheeswarar temple at Pandanallur and its other temples numbering over 23, all under HR&CE. He alleged theft of many idols, misuse of authority and funds, illegal encroachment and alienation of immovable property and loss of revenue due to fraudulent activities. However, the department had not taken any action on his complaints. Hence, the present petition, he said.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2018/nov/04/file-report-on-rental-dues-to-temples-madras-high-court-1893998.html

Kapaleeswarar temple: HR&CE warned of action if missing idol documents are found destroyed

A PIL plea seeking a directive to the temple management to perform the ‘Kumbabhishekam’ after installing a new peacock statue came up.

Published: 02nd November 2018 02:07 AM  |   Last Updated: 02nd November 2018 10:41 AM   |  A+A A-

Kapaleeswarar Temple, Mylapore
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: If it is proved true that documents relating to a peacock idol, which went missing long ago from the precincts of Sri Kapaleeswarar temple at Mylapore, were destroyed, HR&CE officials concerned will have to face serious consequences, a Special Bench of the Madras High Court warned on Thursday.

When a PIL plea seeking a directive to the temple management to perform the ‘Kumbabhishekam’ after installing a new peacock statue came up, the Government counsel produced a letter from HR&CE stating that the documents with regard to the statue were destroyed.

The bench directed the idol wing CID officials to probe the matter.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2018/nov/02/kapaleeswarar-temple-hrce-warned-of-action-if-missing-idol-documents-are-found-destroyed-1893212.html

Court steps in to save lands owned by 36,000 temples

Mohamed Imranullah S.

CHENNAI , November 01, 2018 01:17 IST

Updated: November 01, 2018 07:50 IST

Madurai Meenakshi temple.   | Photo Credit: G_Moorthy

Orders entire data to be uploaded on HR & CE website within three months

In an attempt to protect temple properties, the Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department to collate details of properties owned by over 36,000 temples under its control and publish the status of the properties on its website within three months.
Justice S.M. Subramaniam issued the direction while disposing of a writ petition related to fixation of fair rent for temple property in Tiruvarur. He ordered that the list of rent defaulters, those who were in unlawful occupation of temple properties should be uploaded on the official website of HR & CE Department within three months.
Further, all civil courts in the State were directed to find out the suits instituted against orders passed by the officials under the HR & CE Act and dispose them of expeditiously without any lapse of time. The Registrar General of the High Court was ordered to communicate the direction to all the civil courts in the State.
The other significant direction issued by the judge was to HR&CE Commissioner who was ordered to constitute committees to identify the encroachers, illegal occupants, land grabbers who are in possession of the temple properties and initiate appropriate legal action against them before the end of January next year. Observing that huge tracts of temple lands in the State could not have landed in the hands of land grabbers without the connivance of HR & CE officials, the judge directed the Commissioner to constitute separate committees consisting of officials with proven integrity to identify the erring officials and initiate disciplinary action.

Compliance report

He also sought a compliance report from the Commissioner and directed the High Court Registry to list the case again on January 23. “With all humility, this court with pain, has to observe that the HR&CE department remained as a silent spectator for such large scale illegalities and corrupt activities.
“No one can believe that the higher officials of the department are unaware of such illegalities and corrupt activities. Only possible inference to be drawn is that they have not initiated any effective and efficient actions to prevent or at least to set right all those illegalities and corrupt activities,” the judge said.
Pointing out that most top officials of the department were law graduates, the judge wondered how such people could allow temple properties to be under illegal occupation. “The growing trend across the State is that encroachment of public lands, temple lands and trust lands is continuing unabated as a menace.
“However, no effective steps are taken to curb the illegal activities of those land mafias and land grabbers. Contrarily, the authorities have either colluded or remained as silent spectators. Few honest officials remain as silent spectators and their inaction encourages these illegal activities,” he added.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/court-steps-in-to-save-lands-owned-by-36000-temples/article25384524.ece

Documents on missing peacock idol in Kapaleeswarar Temple destroyed: HR&CE Dept

The Madras High Court on Thursday slammed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department and warned them of severe action if they failed to produce documents in connection to the case of a missing peacock idol at a Chennai temple.

    Priyanka Thirumurthy
    Thursday, November 01, 2018 - 15:07



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The Madras High Court on Thursday slammed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department and warned them of severe action if they failed to produce documents in connection with the case of a missing peacock idol at a Chennai temple. The bench hearing the case came down strongly on the Department after it admitted that all documents in connection to the idol were destroyed.

In August 2018, a petitioner named Rangarajna Narasimhan had approached the court with a writ petition alleging that the peacock statue that originally existed in the Kapaleeswarar Temple in Mylapore represented Goddess Parvati doing puja for Lord Shiva. The peacock, he claims, had a flower in its mouth. It was however, allegedly, replaced in 2004 when TVS Motors Company Chairman Venu Srinivasan was part of a government committee responsible for conducting the Kumbhabhishekam in the temple.

The statue currently present in the temple, has a snake in its mouth, according to the complainant. The idol wing then began an investigation into the case where members of the HRCE Department were interrogated and asked to submit documents in connection with the statue to analyse if it has indeed been replaced.

"The Idol Wing asked for the records of this statue and the HRCE Department replied saying that documents in connection to the statue have been destroyed. The court has now given them one week to produce the records," says Ashok Natarajan, ADSP of the Idol Wing. "We gave a copy of their reply to the court. Investigations are still underway in the case. We will wait for their reply next week to see how we can take the matter further," he adds.

The Madras HC bench comprising Justices Mahadevan and Audikesavalu, however, were shocked by the HRCE Department's stand on the matter. They condemned their reply and have given them a week to produce relevant documents. The court further warned them of severe action if it’s proven that the documents were truly destroyed. The judges pointed out that this was a severe allegation which will lead to serious consequences. They further added that the counsel for the HRCE Department had claimed earlier that they had the necessary documents.

"This is clearly an effort to protect the bigwigs involved in this case including Venu Srinivasan," says the petitioner, Rangarajan. "By destroying documents they have erased crucial evidence regarding the replacement of the statue. This letter that the Idol Wing has produced is an indication of the HRCE's Department's role in this scam," he alleges.


https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/documents-missing-peacock-idol-kapaleeswarar-temple-destroyed-hrce-dept-90907