HC wants to know arrangements made for Ramanujar’s fete

The Madras High Court on Monday wanted to know the arrangements to be made by the HR&CE department for providing drinking water, toilet and other basic facilities to thousands of devotees expected to participate in the Sahasrabdhi Poorty Mahotsav (millennial celebrations) of saint Ramanujar at Sriperumbudur near here between April 12 and 22.

The first Division Bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice A. Selvam ordered notice to the HR&CE department, through its counsel S.P. Maharajan, on a PIL petition filed by International Sri Vaishnava Ramanuja Samrajya Sabha, represented by its secretary Swami Govinda Ramanuja Dasa, and sought its reply by Tuesday itself since there were just 10 days to go for the celebrations.

The petitioner had alleged that no arrangements had been made for the event either by the government or the local authorities despite him having made a representation as early as on January 23.

The petitioner claimed that it was essential to establish shelters in view of the sweltering summer heat and to provide first aid facilities by stationing a sufficient number of ambulances.