Chennai: A former state minister has sought written consent from Advocate General to file a criminal contempt before the Madras high court against Deputy Chief Minister O.Paneerselvam for establishing a small temple within his office premises in the secretariat and performing special pooja in the name of yagam on January 20, 2019, in violation of the directions of the high court and Supreme Court.
In his petition, Anoor Jagadeesan also sought written consent from AG to file a criminal contempt against the State Chief Secretary for not preventing the Deputy Chief Minister from performing religious activities within his office premises in the Secretariat.
In his petition filed through advocates K. Doraisamy and E. Elango, Anoor Jagadeesan submitted that the petitioner was a former cabinet minister in the state of Tamil Nadu during the regime of M.G.Ramachandran. The Union of India is a Secular State. Hence, no religious activities should take place in the government offices and public premises. Way back in 1968, the state government had issued orders prohibiting religious activities in government premises. In 1993 another letter was issued prohibiting construction of any religious structures in government buildings. In 1994 following an instruction from the Union government, the state government wrote a letter to all the secretaries of the government to ensure that the construction of any new shrines for religious worship or enlargement or modification of any existing shrines is discouraged, he added.
He said in 2010, the Madurai bench of the Madras high court has directed the authorities to strictly implement the G.Os. In 2009, the Supreme Court had issued directions relating to unauthorized construction of religious structures on public streets, public parks and other public places. On January 31, 2018, the Supreme Court passed an elaborate order on the same issue. Hence, for any violation of the direction of the Supreme Court, the contempt proceedings can be initiated in the high court concerned. The state government has not acted in accordance with the order of the Supreme Court. However, the Chief Secretary did not take any action to implement the directions of the Supreme Court. But allowed the religious activities within the government premises, he added. He said Deputy Chief Minister had established a small temple within his office premises in the secretariat and held religious activities.
