The Supreme Court on Monday ordered status quo in respect of the present location of the Shiva idol in Thirukurungudi Azhagiya Nambirayar Temple.
A Bench of Justice D.K. Jain and Justice H.L. Dattu directed the parties to maintain status quo on a special leave petition filed by Thirukurungudi Jeeyar Mutt, through its Jeeyar, against a Madras High Court judgment directing relocation of the idol to the original position. The Bench, after hearing senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi and counsel Vipin Nair for the Jeeyar, issued notice to the respondents Sundara Subramanian and others.
The Jeeyar in his SLP stated that the High Court made a serious error in formulating religious issues as “substantial questions of law,” and further made a serious error in totally ignoring the expert committee report of the government as well as the G.O. issued by it ratifying the action of the mutt.
The High Court had failed to appreciate that the mutt's action was a “religious activity.” Further, it could not be held that this action was beyond his competence or the same was against the Agama Sastras, the SLP said.
