The Madras High Court today ordered appointment of senior counsel P S Raman as amicus curiae for protection of monuments and places and objects of archaeological and national importance.
The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T S Sivagnanam, ordered the appointment after perusing an affidavit filed by Tamil Nadu government.
The bench directed the government to implead the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment department as the respondent and ordered issue of a notice to government pleader STS Moorthy to file a reply before June 9.
Earlier when a PIL was filed by Srikumar, Secretary of Heritage Conservation Society seeking to declare all ancient temples that are more than 100 years old as "deemed heritage sites" and to declare any civil work or any work in the nature of renovation and conservation as beyond the Jurisdiction of the HR&CE Department.
The counsel for the petitioner today submitted that in the name of renovation "cultural murder" is taking place.
The Additional Solicitor General, on behalf of Archaeological Survey of India, submitted that Mahabalipuram, which is under the purview of ASI, is fully protected.
Further, a counter affidavit was filed by Additional Advocate General P H Arvind Pandiyan on behalf of Additional Chief Secretary to the government, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department submitting that the state government is always seeking the opinion of experts before taking conservation works.
Apart from appointing various committees including expert committees, the government created an honorary post of "Sthapathi" (temple architect and builder) in the cadre of Superintending Engineer in the HR & CE department.
All steps have been taken by the government not to allow any building activity without prior permission or sanction of the authorities in the new town development plan in Mahabalipuram new town development area.
The bench, after hearing the concerned parties, posted the matter for further hearing to June 9.
