MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Monday sought counter affidavit from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) department on a review application filed against the court’s order appointing a five-member committee to decide the timing for the consecration of Subramaniya Swamy temple in Tiruchendur, which is scheduled to take place on July 7.
The vacation bench of justices S Srimathy and R Vijayakumar passed the order on May 21, on petitions filed by two people objecting to the date and time ( July 7, 9 to 10.30 am) for the consecration stating it was not auspicious.
Petitioners Sri Subramaniya Swamy Thirukoil Swathanthiru Sthalathargal Sabha and Sivarama Subramaniya Sasthrigal claimed if the temple is consecreted in Abhijith Muhurtham (between 12.05 pm to 12.45 pm) on the said date, it would neutralise the inauspicious effects.
The judges disposed of the petitions by directing formation of a five-member expert committee consisting of the chief priest of the Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala, Pitchai Gurukkal of Pillaiyarpatti, SK Raja Pattar of Thirupparankundram, Thanthri of Thiruchendur temple K Subramaniaru and petitioner Sivarama Subramaniya Sasthrigal.
Aggrieved by this, Subramaniya Sasthrigal moved Supreme Court, which granted him liberty to file a review application before HC. Subramaniya Sasthrigal said three of the five members had already supported the timing chosen by the authorities and hence should not have been included in the committee. Hearing the review applications, the judges directed the HR and CE authorities to file a counter affidavit on Thursday.