Madurai Temple Row: A Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has asked Chief Secretary whether repeated disobedience of its orders has been done under someone’s instructions.
Justice G.R. Swaminathan directed the Chief Secretary to file a responsible reply to address the concern at the next hearing.
Another Development
Recently, a Madurai bench of the Madras High Court was told by the Tamil Nadu government that the stone pillar on Thiruparankundram hill did not belong to the Hindus as it was built by the Jain community.
What TN Government Claimed In Madurai Temple Row?
Senior Advocate N. Jothi, who was representing the Joint Commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, submitted that the stone pillar in the center of a controversy was established by Jains.
Jothi added that there were similar pillars in the district of Madurai. The Senior Advocate provided the example of pillars in Shravanabelagola in Karnataka and Samanar Hills near Keelakuyilkudi.
In its submission before a division bench of Justices G. Jayachandran and K.K. Ramakrishnan, the state government submitted that Digambaras, one of the revered and ascetic sects of Jainism) had come from Ujjain to Madurai. They lived in the Thiruparankundram hills and used the stone pillar for used to light lamps during congregations.
It was further added that it was not the same place where Karthigai Deepam was lit and it was actually lit at the Uchipillaiyar temple mandapam. The submission went on to add that any attempt to convert the nature of the stone pillar should not be allowed.
The High Court division bench was hearing the arguments against the order of to-be-impeached Justice GR Swaminathan. Interestingly, Swaminathan had directed the management of the Subramaniya Swamy temple
