HC directs single-window clearance for Lord Ganesha idol installation

The Madras High Court on Friday ordered the Tamil Nadu government to provide a single-window clearance for installation of Lord Ganesha idols and processions for the Vinayaka Chathurthi festival on September 13.

Justice R Mahadevan passed the interim order on a batch of petitions, including one filed by Hindu Munnani founder Ramagopalan, challenging a government order imposing various conditions on installation and immersion of the idols.

The petitioners had opposed the conditions that included obtaining separate permissions from different authorities such as the police and electricity departments.

Earlier, Advocate General Vijay Narayan pointed to the dismissal of a PIL challenging the government order specifying the conditions, while the counsel for the petitioners contended that it could not be a bar on entertaining other similar pleas.

The judge then said such issues shall be considered during the hearing of the petitions and added that considering the sentiments of the Hindus, "this court, as an interim measure, is inclined to pass the order".

He directed that the applications for installing the idols should be submitted to the jurisdictional Deputy Superintendent of Police in rural areas and Assistant Commissioner of Police in cities by 5 pm on Saturday.

The applicants should submit the necessary undertakings on payment of the commercial tariff for electricity consumption and the consent of the land owners, among others, the court said, adding that the police officers should consider the applications and communicate their order by 5 pm on September 10.

They should ensure compliance of the directions issued by a division bench of the court last year for installation of idols and immersion processions, it said.

The date, time and place for the processions and immersion should be fixed by the authority concerned as per their procedure, the court added.

The representatives of the organisers should co-operate with the officials in ensuring a peaceful celebration of the festival, the judge said and posted the petitions after three weeks for further hearing.