Latest news with #HR&CE
New Indian Express
5 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Video of SP's late-night darshan at Coimbatore temple sparks row over Agama rules
COIMBATORE: A video purportedly showing a staff member of Perur Patteeswarar Temple taking a Superintendent of Police (SP) inside the shrine to facilitate darshan for him even after the closure of the sanctum has stirred up a controversy. While the Lord Shiva devotees have been up in arms about the incident since the video went viral on Tuesday and sought the HR&CE department officials to take action against the staff member, the department officials have clarified that the SP visited the shrine before the temple was closed. One of the devotees staged a sit-in on Wednesday seeking action against the HR&CE officials. The Shiva devotees alleged that the temple staff member took the police officer inside the shrine at 9.10 pm on Sunday and it is a violation of 'Agama Vidhi' (the temple's rituals and practices prescribed in the Agama scriptures), as the temple closes at 9 pm. A devotee, who took the video, alleged that the temple staff were favouring higher officials and not the common devotees. Responding to this, a senior HR&CE official told TNIE that the temple staff member took the police officer inside the shrine at 8.50 pm and the timing claimed by the Shivan devotees is wrong. However, a group of Shiva devotees on Wednesday submitted a petition to the district administration seeking to take action against the officials of Perur Patteeswarar Temple along with the staff member in this regard. 'The temple is closed at 9 pm. The entrance door was slightly opened to give way to the priest to come out. However, using this space, the staff member took the police officer inside and facilitated worship in violation of 'Agama Vidhi' which is not acceptable,' said A V Manickavasagam, heading a group of Shiva devotees, who submitted the petition at the collectorate. Manickavasagam claimed that the devotee who took the video on his mobile phone has clear evidence that the staff member took the police officer inside the temple at 9.10 pm.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Karur temple closed in 2018 following caste clash reopened as per Madras HC order
KARUR: Acting on court orders, the HR&CE department-administered Mariamman temple at Chinnadharapuram in the district was reopened for public worship amid tight police security on Friday evening. The temple was closed in 2018 following a caste clash. The temple, which has been under the HR&CE department since 1973, had members of various communities participate in pujas and other rituals until 2018 when SC and MBC members involved in an alleged clash. With both groups approaching the Madurai Bench of the Madras HC, the temple remained closed since then. During the hearing on July 15, the court instructed HR&CE officials to take steps to resume worship at the temple and to display a notice board announcing that all communities are allowed to offer prayers. As per the direction, officials placed the notice board in front of the temple on Thursday. Learning this, a group of MBC members assembled in front of the temple the same day and removed the notice board. Despite official talks, the MBC community opposed the temple's reopening, stating that the issue was pending before court. The HR&CE officials then lodged a complaint against them with the Chinnatharapuram police, who then registered a case. On Friday evening, a team of officials led by HR&CE Assistant Commissioner M Ramanikandan opened the temple following which members of both the MBC and SC communities entered inside and offered prayers.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Adi festival begins with the hoisting of holy flag at Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple
The 'Adi Thirukalyanam' celebrations began with the hoisting of the holy flag at the famous Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple here on Saturday. The 17-day-long festival, which concludes on August 4, began with the spatikalinga puja and sayaratchai puja from 4 a.m. onwards. Special pujas were held and aarathis were taken on the occasion. The HR&CE officials said that the deity was taken in a procession with the temple elephant 'Ramalakshmi' on the lead. At around 10:30 a.m., the holy flag was hoisted at the golden 'kodimaram' at the Navasakti Mandapam. The Adi month celebration comprises Adi Ammavasai on July 24 and the car festival, Adi Tapasu and Thiruoonjal among others would be performed during the festival. A large number of devotees witnessed the flag-hoisting ceremony. The Thirukalyanam would be conducted on July 30.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- New Indian Express
Senior HR&CE official caught taking bribe of Rs 1.5 lakh in Tamil Nadu
COIMBATORE: A 54-year-old assistant commissioner-rank officer of the HR&CE department was arrested by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) sleuths in Coimbatore while taking a bribe of Rs 1.5 lakh. The officer was trapped while taking the bribe from the authorities of a private temple for the department to take over the temple administration. P Indira, a Group B officer working at the Dr Balasundaram Road in Coimbatore, was arrested by the DVAC on Thursday night, based on a complaint lodged by N Sureshkumar (52) of Rathinapuri. The complainant is a civil contractor from Hindu Boyar community, and the temples associated with this community are located at Pappampatti near Sulur, with annual donations of Rs 40 lakh. Sureshkumar and two others submitted a representation to the suspect on March 18, 2025 to take over the administration of the temples, alleging that the administration and fund management were improper and not working in a transparent manner. Sureshkumar also filed a writ petition before the Madras High Court, seeking directions to expedite the undertaking process. The high court, in its order on June 16, directed the HR&CE to complete the undertaking process within 12 weeks, according to the DVAC statement.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Madurai Bench of Madras HC raps collector, police for inaction over caste discrimination in temple
MADURAI: Shocked that even after 75 years of Independence, people are still being denied entry into temples over their caste, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, while hearing two petitions related to such an incident at a Mariyamman temple in Chinna Dharapuram, Karur, directed the HR&CE department, Karur collector and SP to file separate reports on the current situation, reason for the temple's closure, and steps taken to ensure joint worship. Justice B Pugalendhi criticised authorities for keeping the temple closed since 2018 due to communal tension. 'The closure of a public temple, not for days or weeks but for years, under the guise of law and order, is a dereliction of constitutional duty,' he said. 'Stopping everyone from entering is not the way to maintain peace. The law cannot treat the oppressor and the oppressed as equals. The government must remember that peace built by denying rights is not real peace, it is surrender,' he added, slamming the collector and police for inaction. The judge stressed that it is the duty of the HR&CE department and the state to ensure that no caste-based exclusion takes place in any temple. Citing the Kandadevi temple festival in Sivaganga, successfully conducted last year after a 17-year halt due to communal tension, he said it was possible only because the government took proactive steps, deployed adequate police force, engaged with communities, and ensured the participation of Scheduled Caste devotees.
