The Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s two-day event of Art of Living (AOL) at Brihadisvara temple in Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur district has been stayed by the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court on Friday.
The Madurai bench has further ordered for the removal of the temporary structure set up to accommodate those attending the ‘meditation camp’
The High Court order came on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Venkatesan of Kumbakonam on Friday who stated that the event organised by AOL affects the holiness of the temple and should be banned.
Venkatesan in his petition questioned why an offender was being allowed to carry out an event at a UNESCO world heritage site. He also pointed out that it is a 1000-year-old temple and setting up tents could weaken its structure in addition to the threat of pollution at the site.
After hearing the petition, the judges said the Archaeological Survey of India shouldn’t give permission to organise such events at temples that come under its jurisdiction.
The judges stated that “The temporary structures erected inside the temple premises should be removed with immediate effect. The District Collector and Superintendent of Police should confirm the same.”
The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site where private functions are prohibited.