The Madras High Court Bench here on Wednesday directed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department to dispose of within six weeks a representation made by an individual against the proposed creation of two new passages to the Maha Mandapam of Subramaniaswamy temple at Tiruchendur in Tuticorin district.
Disposing of a public interest litigation petition filed by Balasubramania Adityan, a Division Bench of Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice R. Subbiah also directed the temple authorities to maintain status quo until the HR and CE department dispose of the petitioner's representation. The officers were also ordered to communicate their decision to the petitioner.
Petitioner's counsel K.P. Narayana Kumar claimed that demolishing the southern wall of the Maha Mandapam to create the new passages might pose a threat to the structural stability of the temple building besides disturbing ancient theories based on which the temple was built. The temple authorities planned to create new passages, each measuring 6.9 feet in height and 3.6 feet in breadth, as the existing 52 inches wide passage was found inadequate for the huge number of devotees who visit the temple.
