We welcome the order of the High Court to protect the temples and ancient monuments ... BJP L. Murugan ....!

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has welcomed the Chennai High Court's order to protect temples and ancient monuments. The Mamallapuram World Heritage Site Commission should be set up within eight weeks to protect all monuments.

  The 17-member panel will include representatives from the Archaeological Survey of India, state historians, public works representatives, a Treasury official equivalent to the Joint Commissioner, qualified Sthapati and Agam sculptors.

He noted that no alteration work should be carried out on monuments, temples, statues, sculptures and murals declared under federal and state laws without the approval of the committee. In that sense, it is possible the group was responsible for any damage to the monuments.

The ruling advises that the government should finalize within 12 weeks a handbook containing procedures for the preservation and reconstruction of traditional temples, non-traditional temples, monuments and places of historical significance.

The Department of Archeology should inspect temples that are more than 100 years old and assess its damage. Should be published on the website of the Department of Archeology for public consideration;

The Department of Archeology should create a common website for the public to report information about historical monuments and temples in their area.

Temple funds should first be used to pay staff for temple maintenance, ceremonies, priests, reciters, and musicians. It has been suggested that if there is a surplus it can be used for maintenance in other temples.

Would be of great support to the staff at the temple. The temple lands are the property of the trustee of the government or the commissioner of the treasury and should not be sold or given away against the wishes of the donors.

These lands should always be in the possession of the temple. Looting of temple lands will be avoided as it is clearly advised not to bring up the aspect of public purpose till the temple lands are matched.

 The list of lease and rent arrears should be prepared and published on the website within six weeks. It is advised to take action to evict them and collect the arrears.

The idols in the temples should be surveyed and photographed. Details of the stolen idols should be published on websites.

Priests and temple staff should be paid a minimum wage under the Minimum Wage Act, which should be equal to that of civil servants.

Gives great relief to the readers. I urge the Government to come forward to implement all that is instructed in this landmark judgment.