The Madras High Court has refused to restrain the management of Sri Parthasarathy Temple in Triplicane from covering the ‘parakara’ and ‘pradakshina’ course by any structure and making any other alteration inside the temple.
Justice D Hariparanthamqan, who expressed his declination, also upheld the action of the management.
The judge was dismissing two miscellaneous petitions arising out of a writ petition from one Rajkumar. The main prayer of the writ petition was to declare the temple as an ancient monument within the meaning of Sec 2(a) of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act and within the meaning of Sec 2(a) of TN Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act and consequently direct the authorities concerned to preserve the temple as an ancient monument.
Petitioner contended that roofing as well as laying granite stones on the ‘prakara’ and ‘pradakshina’ course would affect the sentiments of the devotees, as the divinity. The executive officer submitted that a semi-permanent plastic sheet shelter was provided through donor work, following requests from senior citizens, devotees, women and physically disabled without obstructing the view of the ‘Vimanam’.
The judge observed that the facilities provided to the devotees, that too outside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, could not be objected to. Similar facilities were provided in many other temples, where devotees go for worship in large numbers, the judge pointed out.
Rejecting the second contention with regard to granite flooring, the judge observed that this was also done for the benefit of the devotees from donations.