Form expert committee to study request to carry out renovation

Thirteen temples in Tamil Nadu, where renovation and repair work had been kept in abeyance by Madras High Court, today got some relief when it directed the state HR&CE department to form an expert committee of structural engineers and archaeology, among others, for the purpose.
The direction was given on various PILs and impleading petitions by the temples which came up before the court today.
The court had on December 10, 2015 directed the department to go slow in renovations and repairs for the time being till a proper path is laid ahead. On August 23 this year it had directed HR&CEto proceed as per suggestions of UNESCO.

Today, the court said all miscellaneous petitions filed by the individual temples should be referred to the committee, which would look into the issue of repairs and renovations.
The committee would have to prioritise the work, depending on urgency, as some religious ceremonies have to be performed in some temples, for which there are designated days.
The matter relates to the suo motu PIL taken up by the court on renovation of temples and Heritage structures in the state.

The 13 temples had filed impleading petitions, stating that they have to carry out essential works like repairs and renovations and praying that they be exempted from the court orders.

The bench while passing interim orders on October 25 had made it clear that appropriate course would be to appoint an expert committee who would consider individual applications of temples to decide what is the essential work, so as to avoid unnecessary delay, as well as multiplicity of proceedings.
After directing the HR&CE department to appoint a committee,the bench posted the matter to November 7.