Tiruchi, September 14, 2013: The Madras High Court Bench here on Friday ordered notice to the Commissioner of Tiruchi Municipal Corporation and the Executive Officer of Arulmigu Agilandeswari Temple in Thiruvanaikaval on a petition filed by a person seeking to stop the construction of a motor room abutting the ramparts of the temple.

The petitioner, V. Murugesan, claimed in his petition that the temple was an ancient monument and a major tourist attraction in Tiruchi district. According to the petitioner, the State Tourism Department and the Union Ministry of Tourism had sanctioned funds to the tune of several lakhs of rupees in 2012 to beautify the temple by constructing pavements, establishing a tourist reception centre and developing landscape.

The beautification works were being carried out based on the suggestions of archaeologists in order to avoid possible damage to the temple, the petitioner added.

However, the Commissioner of Tiruchi Municipal Corporation and the temple Executive Officer allowed the construction of a motor room abutting the 20-foot-tall ramparts against the instructions of the archaeologists, Mr. Murugesan alleged in his petition.

The experts had instructed the officials not to tamper with or damage the ramparts, he further said.

Representation

The petitioner claimed that he submitted a representation to the officials in this regard on August 30, 2013, but they did not respond to it. Therefore, he prayed for a direction to the officials restraining them from constructing the motor room.

A division bench comprising Justices M. Jaichandren and M. Duraiswamy ordered notice to the officials and adjourned the case by two weeks.

Source: The Hindu, September 14, 2013