Lord Murugan statue safe on Palani hill, Madras High Court told

Chennai: The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department (HR & CE) informed the Madras high court on Monday that ‘navabashanam’ Lord Murugan statue of Palani hill temple is safe and that the department has no plans to change or modify it.

When a petition filed Sri Sivananda Pulipani Paathira Swamigal came up for hearing before the second division bench comprising Justice Huluvadi G. Ramesh and Justice M. Dhandapani, the department informed that Lord Muruga idol made of ‘navabashanam’ remained safe.

The petitioner sought direction to constitute an expert committee headed by the petitioner to inspect the idol which is made out of a unique combination of navabashanam at the Palani Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swami temple.

Various newspaper reports alleged that the precious idol had been damaged for its medicinal values. Hence, the authorities are required under the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act to take steps to protect the navabashana idol. The petitioner feared that the safety of the statue was at stake and steps are needed to protect it.

However, opposing the allegations, the department submitted that the idol is in their safe custody and that there is no need to constitute an expert committee to check the statue and that too headed by the petitioner, who is an encroacher of the temple property.