On 20 November 2024, the Madras High Court issued a stern warning that if the orders regarding the renovation of the Vijaya Varadaraja Perumal Temple are not properly executed, the Commissioner of the HR&CE Department may face removal.
The warning came from the first bench, led by Chief Justice KR Shriram and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, in response to a contempt of court petition filed by Advocate B. Jagannath. The petition sought to penalize the officer for willfully disregarding a 2020 court order that directed authorities to take necessary actions to renovate the temple located in Baburayanpet, Chengalpattu district.
The petitioner presented evidence, including photographs showing the temple’s deteriorating condition, and argued that the HR&CE Department had failed to take adequate steps to preserve the heritage site. The court expressed disappointment over the department’s lack of initiative in safeguarding the Vijaya Varadaraja Perumal Temple, an important national heritage monument.
The temple, which is under the control of the HR&CE Department, was the subject of a public interest litigation filed by Advocate B. Jaganath in the High Court. The litigation requested that the ritual work and Kumbabhishekam (consecration ceremony) be carried out in accordance with Vadakalai Vaishnava traditions. The court ordered the HR&CE Department to complete the ceremony within 12 weeks of the 2020 ruling.
However, despite the court’s instructions, no progress had been made, leading Advocate Jagannath to file a contempt case. During the hearing, Jagannath provided photographs showing the temple in a dilapidated state, with overgrown plants and thorns surrounding the premises. He stated that the Kumbabhishekam had not yet taken place despite the court’s order.
The court responded by calling for the HR&CE Commissioner to appear for the afternoon session. During the hearing, Charity Commissioner PN Sreedhar joined via video conference, and the department’s legal representatives, including Additional Advocate General J. Ravindran, assured that an inspection would be conducted, and renovation work would commence within a week.
The bench expressed frustration that the contempt case had been pending for two years and emphasized that the HR&CE Department had shown indifference to the matter, despite the public welfare nature of the case. The court highlighted that the temple, as a national heritage symbol, should be preserved and maintained with the same care as other historic monuments like Stonehenge in Britain or Mount Abu in Rajasthan.
In its ruling, the court ordered the immediate removal of the overgrowth and directed that a status report be submitted by 29 November. The court also warned that failure to comply with the orders could result in the removal of the HR&CE Commissioner and other disciplinary actions. The HR&CE Commissioner was instructed to report on the progress of the renovation work and outline the next steps for the temple’s restoration.
(With Inputs From Dinamalar)
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