Periyanambi Narasimha Gopalan v. Chief Secretary to Government, Government of Tamil Nadu
2020-12-14
B.PUGALENDHI, N.KIRUBAKARAN
body2020
DigiLaw.ai
ORDER : B. PUGALENDHI, J. 1. This writ petition has been filed by an Archaka in Arulmigu Sri Rajagopalaswamy Kulasekara Aalwar Thirukovil, Mannar Kovil, as pro bono publico for a direction to the respondents not to take any steps in furtherance to the launching of the Thirukoil TV, as per the announcement in Ta.Na.Sa.Pe.No.009, dated 24.03.2020, without appointing security personnel and other temple staff on minimum/ living wages to all the temples under the Administrative control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. 2. The Grievance of the petitioner is that there are 36000 temples under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department and most of the temples are without adequate staff, such as Archaka, Watchman, Sweeper and other servants and therefore, most of the temples are left without proper care and protection. Several valuable idols were also stolen away and the devotees are even finding it difficult to enter into the temples. 3. Heard Mr.K.Gokul, learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr.K.P.Narayana Kumar, learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents. 4. The Government has taken a policy decision for launching a dedicated television channel for the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department for telecasting the festivals and bringing out the cultural richness of the temples in Tamil Nadu. The announcement was made on the Floor of the Assembly by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu under Rule 110 and the fund allocation for the same was also made to the extent of 8.77 crores. Pursuant to the same, the Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department has also issued certain guidelines to the Executive Officers of all the temples, how to record the features of the temples and the festivals conducted, for telecasting in the Thirukoil TV. 5. Even according to the petitioner, he welcomes the announcement of launching the Thirukoil TV. However, the concern of the petitioner is that there are several other issues, which deserve priority than launching of Thirukoil TV. The Government, instead of taking initiatives for the safety and security of the temples and the idols, is giving priority to the launching of the TV. Further, the petitioner has also claimed that he has filed two other writ petitions in W.P(MD)Nos.19286 of 2016 and 22907 of 2017 praying for minimum /living wages for the temple staff. 6.
The Government, instead of taking initiatives for the safety and security of the temples and the idols, is giving priority to the launching of the TV. Further, the petitioner has also claimed that he has filed two other writ petitions in W.P(MD)Nos.19286 of 2016 and 22907 of 2017 praying for minimum /living wages for the temple staff. 6. The proposal to launch the dedicated TV is a policy decision of the Government, which has been announced by the Hon'ble Chief Minister on the Floor of the Assembly under Rule 110. Therefore, this Court is not inclined to interfere with such an announcement. Moreover, the petitioner cannot club the appointment of the Watchman, Archaka and other staff for the temples with the proposed dedicated television channel for the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department and the petitioner himself has stated that he welcomes the announcement of the Thirukoil TV, but his concern is the requirement of adequate staff in the Temples to protect the temples and the valuable idols. 7. It is needless to say the that it is the duty of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to protect the temples and the valuable Idols in the temples. By referring the same, the launching of dedicated Televison channel cannot be stalled. 8. With the above observation, the writ petition is dismissed. It is open to the petitioner to work out his remedy in the other writ petitions filed by him. No Costs.