A petition has been filed in the Madras High Court seeking an injunction restraining the use of Thiruthani Murugan Temple hostels for illegal activities.
The petitioner Harshavardhan Thavlur of Thiruthani has stated that hostels owned by the Thiruthani Murugan Temple is being used for illegal activities like prostitution, drinking, gambling, eating non-vegetarian food, etc.
It stated that two temple staffs – Periyakarthi and Kuppan – were involved in these activities during the lockdown period when the temples remained closed.
The petitioner also alleged that the Assistant Commissioner Palanikumar of the HR&CE department and the Temple trustee Jaishankar did not take any action against the two and were acting in their favour. The petition called for strong action to be taken against all those involved.
A few days ago, in a case related to the setting up of a government fish store on temple owned land, the Madras High Court ruled that temple properties should not be used for anything other than temple-related activities.
Devotees expressed anguish that on one hand the state has been encroaching temple lands and on the other the HR&CE staff in temples are indulging in illegal activities and abusing their power.
Earlier, two employees – Sivarajan and Sivakumar of Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department were sacked for consuming alcohol and eating meat within the premises of the Kolanjiappar Temple in Manavalanallur village in Cuddalore district after their video went viral on social media. They had also taken advantage of the lockdown situation.
Prior to this, two officials of the HR&CE department working in the Dhandayuthapani Swami Temple in Palani were suspended for consuming alcohol in the temple premises.
Source: Dinamalar