HC directs govt to constitute hight level committee

The Madras High Court bench here today directed the Tamil Nadu government to constitute a high level committee to for providing basic amenities at Chathuragiri Hills, a pilgrim centre on the Western Ghats.
The committe's chairperson should be non-political and devoted to Lord Shiva, justices S Tamilvanan and V S Ravi ordered on a petititon filed by T Nellaikumar.
The petitioner said he had sent representation to the government on March 16 last seeking to provide basic amenities and other facilities such as transport from Watrap to Thaniparai which is in Virudhunagar district, from there to Sundaramahalingam and Sandhanamahalingam temples on chathuragiri hills in the Madurai district.

The petitioner said bathroom, toilet, accommodation, electricity, medical and other facilities are needed. As there was no action, he filed the case before the high court bench.
M S Murugan, another petitioner, approached the court seeking to remove unauthorized constructions made in temples site nearby the Grizzled Squirrel Sanctuary on the hills and to restrict the people movements.
The bench has also given guidelines in picking up chairman and members.

The chairman and members should be non-political, having public interest and also faith in the system of worship of the particular religious sect, relating to Siva temple. They should be interested in rendering service, without expecting any monetary or other benefits, the bench said.

The bench also said that the high level committee should take immediate steps to form proper roads from Watrap to Thaniparai and from Thaniparai to Sathuragiri hills.
Towards forming roads or extending any facilities to the public, if any additional land is needed, the same shall be made available, as per procedure known to law. If any further construction needed for the temple, the same should be done as per the Agama Sasthra of Siva temple, for which the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment department has to incur the expenditure. However, voluntary donations may also be accepted. There should be no deviation from the constitutional mandate of secularism, the bench said.

The judge also said that forest and wildlife should be protected.