Khushi Gupta
Published on: May 17, 2022 at 15:56 IST
For the first time the Madras High Court, a Judge has conducted a Case through ‘WhatsApp’, and on a Sunday.
Justice G R Swaminathan took up the Case while being stationed in Nagercoil, where he had gone to attend a marriage function, following a submission of P R Srinivasan, the hereditary trustee of Shri Abheeshta Varadaraja Swamy Temple, that his village will face the ‘divine wrath’ if the proposed ‘Rath’ (Car) festival was not held.
“This fervent prayer of the Writ Petitioner made me hold an emergency sitting from Nagercoil and conduct the Case through WhatsApp,” the Judge said in the opening sentence of his Order.
The issue pertained to a temple in Dharmapuri District. Holding that the Inspector attached to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Department (HR&CE) does not have the jurisdiction to Issue an Order directing the temple Thakkar (Fit person) and the hereditary trustee to stop the car festival, the judge quashed the same.
Earlier, the Advocate General told the Judge that the Government does not oppose the holding of the event. After the defects pointed out in the impugned communication are rectified, the procession can very well be conducted and the State may not have any Objection, he added.
After Quashing the Impugned Order, the Judge directed the temple authorities to strictly follow the rules and regulations stipulated by the government while holding temple festivals.
Eleven persons were killed on the spot and 17 others injured last month near Thanjavur due to electrocution.