New Delhi, November 27: The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Tamil Nadu Government on a petition filed by certain persons including Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy challenging the state’s decision to take over management of the 5th century Nataraja Temple at Chidambaram.
A bench of Justices Altamas Kabir and Cyriac Joseph granted six weeks’ time to the state to respond on the matter.
The apex court passed the directions on the petition filed by the Podhu Dikshitars? who claim to be the hereditary trustees of the temple and challenge the government’s right to interfere in religious matters.
The state government by its order in 2006 appointed an executive officer to manage the affairs of the temple on the ground that there was large scale misappropriation and misuse of temple funds and properties by some of the Podhu Dikshitars.
–Agencies