File report on ongoing renovation work: HC to temple EO

The Madras High Court bench today directed the Executive officer of Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam to file a report on November 12 on ongoing renovation work, with details of the expertise of members of the advisory committee entrusted with the task.
Justices V.Dhanabalan and V M Velumani, admitting a petition filed by one A Krishnamachari, founder of Divya Desa Parambhariya Pathukapuu peravai (Vishnu Shrine Protection Federation), said the court wanted to know details of experts whom the administration was consulting when massive work was going on in the temple, supposed to be one of the largest in the world (156 acres) and prime one among Vishnu shrines.

The petitioner submitted that paintings on walls of a sub temple had been erased. There were 700 inscriptions, copper plates and murals in this temple, an architectural masterpiece representing the best in Dravidian style of architecture.
Renovation was being done hastily under the leadership of Venu Srinivasan, Chairman of board of Trustees, he said.
The petitioner alleged that major changes were being made without knowing the history, origin and salient features. No written permission had been obtained from the Commissioner for such large-scale renovation work. As per rules,the commissioner should give instructions to the trustees for preservation of works of art, sculpture, paintings and antiquities.

The petitioner said the Commissioner should obtain competent advice for granting permission. In any case, antiquities should not be destroyed. As per recognised norms and traditions even 'Tiruman Kappu' (ingisnia of the religion) should not be removed. But this had been done.
He had sought a stay on restraining the temple administration from any further renovation work and prayed for a direction to them to constitute an advisory or consulting committee, comprising persons with knowledge of inscriptions, sculptures, historical background, religious practices, customs and conventions of the temple.
The court then directed the EO to file the report on November 12.