Erosion of a culture results in elimination of identity and slowly leads to extinguishment. Therefore, the government is duty bound to protect the archaeological and cultural heritage of the State by preserving the historical monuments including temples, their properties, folklore, arts, murals and all activities related to them, the Madras High Court has said.
Justices R. Mahadevan and P.D. Audikesavalu said: “The ancient temples in Tamil Nadu, the most in the country, carry a cultural heritage. The temple lands gifted by pious philanthropists play a very important role in the sustenance of temples and it is the duty of the administrators of the temples, for which endowments have been made, to preserve the same.”
The judges went on to write: “The Kings, who ruled the State then with different geographical divisions, were all unified in building, maintaining and preserving the temples, charities and allied activities. Now, all that could be expected of the State government is to take appropriate and continuous action to preserve the temples and its properties left over by the donors.”
