Chennai, Dec 19 (BPNS)
Madras High Court judge, S.M. Subramanian came out heavily against corruption in a Chennai temple on Monday. He said that he had visited the Dhandayudhapani temple, Chennai on Saturday with his family and did not disclose his identity, and did not take the VIP darshan. Instead, he paid Rs 150 for three special darshan tickets each costing Rs 50.
To his surprise, the judge found that the staff in the counter of the temple provided two tickets worth Rs 50 each and 5 Rs ticket and when questioned, the staff behaved rudely at him.
In the open court the judge while narrating the experience to the State Government Pleader P. Muthukumar and the Executive Officer of the temple said that the staff of the temple were not willing to share the contact phone number of the executive officer of the temple.
He said that when his wife enquired with the staff as to why the Executive officer was not sharing the phone number while even the Chief Minister’s contact number was available, the staff said ,” The CM may share his number but we cannot share the phone number of the Temple executive officer.”
The Judge said that the temple staff entered into an argument with his family, and was even trying to push him out of the temple when the police arrived on the scene and identified him
Justice Subramanian said that the temple was having a turnover of Rs 14 crore per annum and said that the temple was owning properties worth hundreds of crores of rupees.
He also said that the Executive officer of the temple was equally responsible for the issues that took place in the temple and said that she cannot be absolved of the disciplinary proceedings to be taken. The Judge said that the HR&CE department had posted officers in the rank of Deputy Commissioners as Executive Officers to manage such temples and that the Executive officer of this temple had erred in her duty.
Justice Subramian handed over a written complaint addressed to the HR&CE commissioner to the State Government Pleader and said that if necessary he can identify the temple staff who behaved rudely at him and his family.
He said that it was only when constitutional authorities visit public places without VIP treatment that they could understand the amount of difficulties being faced by the common man.
The Judge also said that he was not initiating suo moto proceedings in the case as he was expecting proper action from the HR&CE commissioner. The State Government Pleader assured the judge that proper action would be taken and that it would be reported to the court by the second week of January.
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