Madras High Court quashes lower court verdict

CHENNAI: A summons may be issued to God for verification, perhaps in India. The Madras High Court has struck down a similar summons issued by a Chennai court. In fact, the lower court had directed the temple authorities of Tirupur district to re-present the stolen idol of Mulavar (Dev) in the court after it was formally re-installed in the temple.

High Court judge R Suresh Kumar slammed the lower court, saying the judge should have instead appointed an advocate or a commissioner to examine the image and report its findings.

The judge, while slapping the lower court at Kumbakonam, which is dealing with the cases of idol theft, directed the authorities to present all the items related to the idol at Paramsivan Swami Mandir at Siviripalayam in Tirupur district. The judge issued the order against the authorities' order to remove the idol from its place and present it in Kumbakonam court.

According to the petitioner, the idol of the ancient temple was stolen. Police later found the stolen idol and produced it in a special court in Kumbakonam, which deals with theft cases. It was also tested. The idol was later presented to the temple authorities and has been formally restored in the temple. The Kumbhashikem ritual has also taken place. Now a large number of people, including villagers, are worshiping him. A judicial official dealing with the case now ordered Murthy to be produced in court again. Now that all his representations have been made before the court, the removal of the idol from its place by the judicial officer and its re-introduction in the court has shaken the faith of the devotees, including the petitioner, who have filed an objection against it. On Thursday, the judge ordered that the statue not be removed from the site. The court said the summons could not be sent to God for the sole purpose of investigation. This is not a criminal case.