Protect rare stones found in Kannanur reserve forest: Madras HC to officials
Chennai: Pointing out that the way in which the officials are dealing with the historical ancient sites shows that they will definitely destroy the entire evidences, the Madras high court has directed the forest officials, who have de-rooted the rare Menhir, Cairn Circle, Dolmen, Cyst and other age old stones, which are found in Kannanur reserve forest, Pudukottai district, to give protection to all the materials found therein.
A division bench comprising Justices N.Kirubakaran and S.S.Sundar gave the directive while passing interim orders on a Public Interest Litigation, which sought a direction to the authorities to do research in Kannanur reserve forest, Thirumayam taluk, Pudukottai district, the historical importance of the presence of Menhir, Cairn Circle ascertain and Dolmen Cyst.
The bench said without understanding the historical, heritage and ancient value of the Menhir,
Cairn Circle, Dolmen, Cyst and other age old stones, found in Kannanur reserve forest, the officials started de-rooting the same and kept the same in the margins of the road.
To prevent the same, the petitioner has come before this court, the bench added.
The bench said, “Our state has many evidences to prove that this is one of the ancient lands and people lived about thousands of years ago and they left behind so many important evidences to show their life and culture. A few examples are Athirambakkam, Pallavaram, Korkai, Athichanallur, Keeladi, Porundhal, Kodumanal, Puliman Kombai Samanar Beds and these are all the places which prove existence of advanced life of Tamils before 500 BC. When such is the position, both the Central and state governments have to take steps to preserve these historical sites. But, the way in which the officials are dealing with these historical ancient sites would show that they will definitely destroy the entire evidences. Therefore, it is appropriate to grant an order of interim direction”.
The forest officials, who have de-rooted this rare Menhir, Cairn Circle, Dolmen, Cyst and other age old stones, which were found in Kannaur reserve forest, were directed to give protection to all the materials found therein.
The jurisdictional forest officer was directed to preserve the same as the pieces of materials having archeological and historical value with the assistance of police officials and protect the entire area from which the alleged removal of these materials had taken place.
The superintendent of police, Pudukottai, was directed to give police protection for the said purpose, the bench added.
The bench said both the Central and state governments were directed to depute an officer separately to visit the site to ascertain the age of those materials. The said officer shall also find out as to whether any inscriptions were found on the stone and file a report to that effect.
The forest officials shall also give the details about the number of stones and other ancient artefacts, which had been de-rooted by them, the bench added and posted after two weeks, further hearing of the case.
