Chennai: The Madras High Court has castigated the joint commissioner/executive officer of Shri Ranganatha Swamy Temple in Srirangam for his high-handed attitude in religious activities. “We are of the view that clearly the officer has some misgivings about the authority he holds, and he has a huge attitude problem, making him practically unfit for the post he is holding. We, thus call upon the secretary, TDCREI and Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment department to look into the issue and file an affidavit before the court within a week”, said a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M. Sundar while passing interim orders on a Public Interest Litigation from devotee Rangarajan Narasimhan.
The petitioner sought a direction to the state government and HR & CE department to remove the barricades in the second prakaara also referred to as Rajamahendran Thiruchutru of the Shri Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Srirangam and make it available for Sri Vaishnavas and Vishnu devotees visiting the said temple to do Prathakshina which is an important religious ceremony.
“On his representation being made, the response sent on January 24, 2017, by the JC/ EO of the temple is highly condemnable. Instead of addressing the issue in question, he arrived, with no knowledge of performing pujas and as if he himself is an acharya and not only an EO. He alleges that the petitioner is like a ‘high court judge’ what does it mean? While an EO is not competent to decide on the religious activities, this person projects himself as an authority on the matter. He even threatened the petitioner of criminal and civil action. We are of the view that clearly the officer has some misgivings about the authority he holds, and he has a huge attitude problem, making him practically unfit for the post he is holding. Thus, we call upon the TDCREI department secretary and HR & CE Commissioner to look into the issue and file an affidavit within a week”, the bench added and posted on February 13, further hearing of the case.
