HC direction to HR&CE

The Madras High Court has directed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to continue with the exercise of how best experts could be involved for renovation of heritage temple and idols.
"Necessary assistance can also be provided by the central government/Archaeological Survey of India, on both the issues," it said.
The court was hearing a PIL taken up suo motu by it last year, according to which, improper restoration work by the state government and HR&CE department had resulted in damage to idols and heritage temples.
The court had then appointed senior advocate P S Raman as amicus curiae of the committee formed to look into the matter. It also directed the HR&CE department only to go slow and undertake only urgent repair works.

When the matter came up, Justice M Sathyanarayanan said "Once again we are faced with a situation where the meeting was fixed by the commissioner almost on the anvil of the hearing and that too, by one day's notice. At the cost of repetition, we say this does not sub-serve the cause and shows disrespect for other person's time."
The judge then said the committee members had agreed to provide their suggestions for computation of a manual. Once the suggestions were obtained, the department had to prepare a draft manual within the next month. It would then be discussed by the committee members. "The learned amicus curiae and the department are free to obtain suggestions from persons other than committee members."

The matter has been adjourned to April 21.