HC order on 'Girivalam scheme' in Tiruvannamalai stayed

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, AUG. 6. The Supreme Court today stayed the Madras High Court order framing a `scheme' for providing facilities to devotees who visit Tiruvannamalai temple to perform `Girivalam'.

A bench, comprising Mr. Justice S.P. Bharucha and Mr. Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, stayed the High Court order dated May 11 on a special leave petition (SLP) filed by the Tamil Nadu Government, seeking to set aside the impugned judgment. The bench ordered notice to the Arunachala Giri Pradakshina Samithi and others, on whose petitions the High Court passed the order.

Under the scheme framed by the High Court, three committees were ordered to be appointed. These committees shall have the power to regulate free ``Giri pradhakshinam'' besides levying and collecting fees on full moon days and other auspicious occasions when the devotees perform `Girivalam'.

Challenging the order, the Tamil Nadu Government in its SLP contended that the committee was endowed with enormous powers of day-to-day administration, which encroached on the powers and responsibilities of the municipality and the Government. The Government submitted that the scheme was contrary to the provisions of the Constitution and the Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Act.

The SLP pointed out that under the impugned order, the municipality was required to obtain a no-objection certificate from the executive committee before giving approval to the building plans. The order also specified separate building rules for the town.

The SLP submitted that the municipality was already performing the functions of providing lights and supply of drinking water to devotees but these functions were being sought to be entrusted to the committee. Contending that this amounted to interference with the constitutional status and powers of the municipality, the SLP prayed for setting aside the High Court order and an interim stay of its operation.

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Section  : National
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