Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister, K.R. Periyakaruppan, on Wednesday denied in the Assembly that precious jewels of Subramaniaswamy Temple at Tiruchendur, one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga, had been embezzled.
Responding to observations of Pattali Makkal Katchi legislator T. Velmurugan during Zero Hour, he said that originally, four keys of the temple's strong room were with the traditional trustees (Sthalathar). Following complaints of embezzlement of temple jewels by four such trustees in 1966, the HR&CE Department was in possession of two keys.
The other two keys continued to be held by the traditional trustees. This was against Department rules. When directed by the authorities to hand over the keys by January 11, the trustees sought more time. Simultaneously, they moved the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, which did not grant stay on the direction of the authorities. Efforts for securing the other two keys would be made.
In the 1960s embezzlement, an audit in 1967 had revealed that the jewels, valued at Rs.70,000, were missing. Through a court of law, a portion of the jewels was retrieved. For the remaining jewels, the equivalent monetary value had to be secured from the trustees, for which steps were on. In 1982 and 2009, valuation of the temple jewels was carried out. No irregularity or embezzlement was found.
Crowd management
The Minister also referred to the proposal to form two more entry points for the maha-mandapam of the temple for smooth crowd management. Apart from the shrine of the presiding deity, there were three shrines for Shanmugar, Jayanthinathar and Natarajar.
The proposal was drawn up on the advice of Muthiah Sthapathi, who was consulted by the government on temple architecture. The Department had sought objections of views or objections of the public and devotees, he added.
