Court orders notice as PIL wants all curbs lifted at Kanchi temple

Chennai: The Madras high court on Monday directed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department to respond to a PIL alleging that normal functioning of Kancheepuram Varadaraja Perumal Temple is yet to begin even after relaxation of Covid-19 lockdown.
The petitioner, Anantha Desikan, also alleged that certain regular rituals are not being performed.
Admitting the plea, a division bench of Justice M Duraiswamy and Justice Sathya Narayana Prasad directed the department to file a counter affidavit in two weeks.
According to the petitioner, the department has permitted the normal functioning of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam, through an order dated October 26.
Through the order they have specifically permitted to perform essential sacred rituals to the deity which were earlier restricted, he said.
However, the same has not been permitted in Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Kancheepuram, without any valid reason, he said.
Therefore, he wanted the court to direct the department to permit normal functioning of the Kancheepuram temple at the earliest.