Protect activists fighting corruption in temples: HC to police

A vacation bench of the Madras High Court held that the people who are protecting against corruption needs to be protected from threats and at the same time, the court wanted the police to take action against people who harass others under the guise of anti-corruption activities.

The bench comprising Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice J Sathya Narayana Prasad passed the direction on hearing a petition filed by Pallappatti Ganesan. The petitioner requested the court to take action against A Radhakrishnan for threatening HR&CE officers, and also devotees who visit temples saying that they got court orders in his favour.

The judges further pointed out that the voices of people who are struggling to protect jewels and properties of temples should not be suppressed.

“When a few officials are making mistakes, people who are questioning the act should be protected.

However, if anyone threatens officers and devotees under the guise of the anti-corruption activities, the police shall take action against them in accordance with the law,” the High Court noted.

The petitioner stated that Radhakrishnan often enters the temple premises and said that he wants to do review inside the temple. “He’s often causing hindrance to devotees and threatening officers,” the petitioner noted. However, Radhakrishnan submitted that since he has been acting against the corrupt activities that persist in the temples, he has more enemies than friends which was the reason he was facing these types of cases. As Radhakrishnan submitted an affidavit before the judge that he’ll not be an any obstacle to the movement of devotees and officers, the judges observed that they could not pass any direction against the respondent.