The Madras High Court today pulled up the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department over its inability to safeguard ancient idols in temples across Tamil Nadu and questioned the need for it.
The court made the oral observation when cases pertaining to theft of idols from various temples in the state came up.
Justice R Mahadevan ordered the court-appointed special team headed by Idol Wing IG Pon Manickavel, to probe all pending idol theft cases in the state and submit a report by February 23.
It also directed the state government to provide a facility in Tiruchirappalli for the team to function.
Manickavel was credited with cracking several cases and recovering various ancient idols worth crores of rupees during his stint with the Idol Wing of the Tamil Nadu Police.
When the matter came up, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department submitted that some of the directions given earlier by the Court have been implemented.
To this, Manickavel alleged that due to the inaction of the HR&CE Department, some antique idols were suffering damage.
At this point, the Judge asked the HR&CE department's counsel, what was the need for such a department if it could not protect the ancient idols.
He further observed that similar was the state of idols in several temples which he had visited.
The Judge then directed the Commissioner of HR&CE department and IG Pon Manickavel to comply with all its directions and submit a report on the same by February 23 and adjourned the case.
Manickavel was in September last year given full additional charge as IGP, Idol Wing, by the state government, days after the High Court had warned of issuing notices to the authorities on the matter.
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