Madras HC orders replacement of Sthapathi in panel

Citing the qualifications of Dakshinamoorthy and alluding to the criminal prosecution faced by Muthiah, the division bench comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan said, “Though the intervener vehemently opposed the replacement, this Court is of the considered view that Daskshinamoorthy is the ideal replacement for Muthiah and therefore he shall take charge of the traditional Stapathi on the expert committee.”

The matter relates to the suo motu PIL taken up by the court in 2016 regarding the renovation of temples and heritage structures in the State.

Earlier, Additional Advocate General (AAG) PH Aravindh Pandian submitted that the two Agama experts Stala Shayana Bhattacharyar and S Arunasundaram had attended only two meetings of the committee and failed to co-operate with other members.

This, the AAG claimed had resulted in the committee being unable to decide on some works for which agama action is required and hence replacement of these members is required.

Rangarajan Narasimhan, intervener in the plea, submitted that contrary to AAG’s submission the agama experts were unable to discharge their duties owing to the attitude of other members in the expert committee. Hence, before replacing them, the views of both the members should be heard, he argued, opposing the replacement of Muthiah.

But Amicus Curiae PS Raman while conceding to the aspect that the views of the Agama experts must be elicited before their replacement, endorsed the replacement of Muthiah with Dakshinamoorthy as his credentials appears to be good.

The bench while replacing the Stapathi held, “Though the two Agama experts are not cooperating with the other members of the committee, this court is of the considered view that their views ought to be elicited before replacement.”

The bench then issued notice to the Agama experts returnable by August 9 and posted the matter for further hearing to that date.

The bench also accorded permission to carry out repair work on the Eastern Parakaram of the Meenakshmi Amman Temple in Madurai, where the slabs have already been removed.