HC directive to Municipality, Collector, ASI

The Madras High Court has directed the Chidambram Municipality, the Collector of Cuddalore and the Archaelogical Survey of India to file their replies on a PIL alleging that a planned construction on a main street would block the view of the ancient Natarajan temple in Chidambaram.
The ASI in in its reply yesterday before the first bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan, said that the temple does not fall within its purview.
ASI's Chennai circle made a submission to this effect when a PIL by 10 persons sought to forebear the Municipality and the Collector from putting up any construction for obstruction on or over a street in that town.

The petitioners submitted that any construction would obstruct worshippers' clear view of the 160 foot east Gopuram (tower) of the temple.
They submitted that the authorities had decided to construct a huge concrete shelter in east mada street opposite the tower which would block the view and so moved the court.
They also sought time to go through the counters filed by the Commissioner of the Municipality and the Collector.
The bench, which granted time after posting the matter to August 11, also took note of the pathetic condition of roads leading to the temple through photographs submitted to it and the assurance of the Commissioner that they would be relaid.