The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has summoned the Commissioner of Rameswaram Municipality to appear before the court while hearing a public interest litigation petition that complained about sewage and contaminated water getting mixed into the sea at ‘Agni Theertham’ in Rameswaram.
A Division Bench of Justices M. S. Ramesh and A. D. Maria Clete directed the official to be physically present before the court with an affidavit on the steps taken so far. The court has posted the matter for hearing to December 2.
Since the issue touched upon the health and safety of the public, the court observed that it was appropriate that the Secretary of the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department was apprised of the day-to-day developments of the case. The court suo motu impleaded the Secretary as a respondent in the case.
The court passed the direction while hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by advocate Elephant G. Rajendran of Chennai. The petitioner sought a direction to the authorities to ensure that no sewage and contaminated water was let into the sea.
He said that the ‘Agni Theertham’ was an important theertham, abutting the Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram. Lakhs of devotees thronged the temple and bathed at the ‘Agni Theertham’. However, Rameswaram Municipality had failed to maintain the place in a hygienic manner, he complained.
He said that the road and padithurai leading to ‘Agni Theertham’ were in a bad condition. Sewage was being discharged near ‘Agni Theertham’. The authorities should be punished for polluting the water. Even the temple authorities have closed their eyes to the issue. They have not taken any steps to prevent this. It was the duty of the authorities to prevent the contamination of water and protect the devotees, he said.
The petitioner sought a direction to the Ramanathapuram Collector to take necessary steps to prevent sewage being let into the sea and keep the road and padithurai in a proper condition.
Published – November 30, 2024 09:11 pm IST