Source: www.indopia.in
CHENNAI, INDIA, September 15, 2009: (HPI Note: This short report, the first we have of the court action, does not present the side of the temple priests who appealed the takeover.)
The Madras High Court today upheld a 1987 Tamil Nadu government order appointing an Executive Officer (EO) for managing the endowments and vast immovable property of the ancient Sri Sabhanayagar Temple, better known as Lord Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram. A division bench comprising Justices K Ravi Raja Pandian and T Raja dismissed an appeal by Podu Dikshidars (PD) challenging a single judge’s order upholding state government’s July 31, 1987 order.
The bench also held that”there is a clear demarcation of powers to be executed by the EO and Podu Dikshidars which could only be for better and efficient administration of the temple.”
Stating that the commissioner for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) had rightly concluded that the PD’s had continuously neglected their duties, the judges said if the temple, established by Cholas and Pandyas and rulers of Viajayanagaram between 10th and 13th centuries, had been properly administered and managed, it would have been one of of the richest temples in the country. The EO, the Bench said, having seen the importance of preserving the old beauty, antiquity, archaeological and historical value of the temple, in consultation with Joint Commissioner of HR&CE had submitted a proposal for a grant of US$10.6 million to the government for the purpose.
Noting there had been a large scale misappropriation of temple funds and mismanagement of the 400 acres of its land prior to the appointment of the EO, the Judges said, “still if this court interferes with the appointment of the EO, this court will be failing in its duty to safeguard and preserve ancient and historical value and importance of the temple. (HPI note: The Dikshidars contest these accusations of mismanagement–see the full story in Hinduism Today, October 2009, issue at www.hinduismtoday.com.)