The Supreme Court on Thursday asked Tamil Nadu government counsel to take instructions whether the State could withdraw its order taking over the Chidambaram Natarajar Temple and appointing an Executive Officer for its maintenance.
Final arguments
A Bench of Justices B.S. Chauhan and S.S. Bobde made this suggestion while hearing final arguments on petitions filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and others challenging the takeover of the management of the temple from Podhu Dikshitars.
The Bench orally observed that whether the State could divest the Podhu Dikshitars of the control of the temple to which they had been associated for over 2,000 years.
A Division Bench of the Madras High Court had affirmed a single judge order upholding the appointment of the Executive Officer for the Natarajar Temple, Chidambaram, and the appeals were directed against this order.
Arguments will continue on December 3.
