Plea in HC: Let Hindu judge-led panel run Srirangam temple

TNN | Nov 2, 2018, 07.20 AM IST

CHENNAI: The Madras high court ordered notice to the state on a PIL for an expert committee headed by a retired Hindu judge to manage the affairs of the Srirangam temple in Trichy.

The petitioner, Rangarajan Narashiman, also wanted the court to order an audit on Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, Srirangam, by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India. Admitting the plea, a division bench of Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad directed the HR&CE department to file its reply by November 19.

The petitioner alleged that authorities, including the board of trustees of the temple and the HR&CE department, were in a league and were 'ruling' the temple with no regard to traditions and 'Srivaishnava Sampradaya'.

"The board of trustees misused the powers vested in them and appointed numerous touts in the temple who have no connection with temple affairs both internal and external and made numerous changes to the physical structure of the temple including the celestial body of the main deity," he said.

The executive officer and joint commissioner of the temple have gone beyond all reasonable grounds to interfere with the religious affairs of the temple by passing orders on what is to be done and how it is to be done to religious heads and kainkaryaparars, he alleged. He also claimed that the board of trustees was colluding with the joint commissioner in spending money on activities that are against the sampradaya of the temple.

Pointing out that the last audit into the affairs of the temple was conducted in 2015, the petitioner said authorities have failed to ensure such audits are conducted annually as mandated by HR & CE Act.

HC pained over Srirangam temple getting mired in row

Mohamed Imranullah S.

CHENNAI , October 24, 2018 01:35 IST

Updated: October 24, 2018 01:35 IST

Temple management accuses litigant of creating trouble

The Madras High Court on Tuesday expressed deep anguish over the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam in Tiruchi district facing “unnecessary” issues with the temple management and a litigant, Rangarajan Narasimhan of Tiruchi, levelling charges against each other.

A Division Bench of Justices R. Mahadevan and P.D. Audikesavalu expressed its displeasure when senior counsel Satish Parasaran, representing the temple management, accused Mr. Narasimhan of interfering with the day-to-day administration of the temple and going to the extent of screaming at the priests.

The senior counsel said the litigant had been roaming around the temple campus recording every other happening with his mobile phone camera. His activities had forced the temple administration to record his activities too. “So, now we have two teams with two cameras to give their version of what the other side is doing. This is not the way in which a litigant should conduct himself. Here is a person who is going about marring the reputation of every other soul involved in the temple administration. He has been maligning people in the social media. Whatever allegations he has to make, let him put it on affidavit. We are all here to answer,” he added.

Mr. Parasaran also claimed that many donors contributing towards temple renovation work had backed off because they felt threatened at the prospect of their image being tarnished on the social media. However, Mr. Narashimhan claimed that he had videographed the happenings in the temple only to collect evidence for his claim regarding alleged irregularities.

Disapproving of such a practice, the senior judge asked the litigant to desist from the practice of videographing the happenings inside the temple. “You are entitled to go to the temple as a devotee and worship the deities. Whatever you have to say in the court, put it in the form of an affidavit,” the judge said.

Anticipatory bail plea

Early this month, the Idol Wing-CID had filed a status report in a sealed cover on the investigation conducted by it so far on the basis of the litigant’s complaint of theft of several ancient artefacts from the temple. Stating that they would require time to peruse the report, the judges adjourned further hearing on the issue to November 1.

Later, when the anticipatory bail petitions of businesspersons Ranvir R. Shah and Kiran Velagapudi (Kiran Rao) came up for hearing, the Idol Wing-CID filed written replies, vehemently objecting to grant of advance bail to them in a case booked by it for allegedly being in possession of ancient temple idols and artefacts. Further hearing on the anticipatory bail pleas was adjourned to Thursday to enable the appearance of State Public Prosecutor A. Natarajan.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/hc-pained-over-srirangam-temple-getting-mired-in-row/article25304240.ece