Madras HC appoints retired judge to probe missing idols, jewels from Adikesava Perumal Temple

Madurai (Tamil Nadu) [India], October 20 : The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has appointed a retired high court judge to investigate the disappearance of idols and jewels from the Adikesava Perumal temple in Thiruvattar, Kanniyakumari district.
This decision follows the court's frustration over non-compliance with its previous directives in a Public Interest Litigation.
The bench, consisting of Justices R Subramanian and L Victoria Gowri, also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department joint commissioner Rathinavelpandian for his failure to adhere to the court's orders and suggested disciplinary measures against him. The judge is expected to submit a report within three months.
Thangappan from Thiruvattaru filed a public interest litigation in the Madurai Bench of the High Court, seeking protection for the properties belonging to the Thiruvattaru Adikesava Perumal Temple.
Despite court orders, the temple's golden kalasam and ornaments were not displayed during the Kumbabishekam ceremony.
Thangappan had previously sought information under the Right to Information Act about the temple's golden ornaments and the missing 1992 theft case, where several valuable items, including a golden angavastram, went missing. However, he received no proper response.
The gold sivalingam that was present in the moolasthanam is also not available now, he further alleged.