Court emphasizes the necessity of expert involvement and statutory compliance in decisions affecting heritage conservation.

ORDER :

D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, J.

This Writ Petition is filed to seek a writ of Certiorari or any other suitable order concerning the impugned approval dated 05.09.2023, issued by the 8^th respondent, the State Level Expert Committee, regarding Arulmigu Ponkaliamman Temple, Kumaramangalam, Namakkal, and to have it quashed as illegal.

2. The brief factual background of this case needs to be understood. The Arulmigu Ponkaliamman Temple in Kumaramangalam, Namakkal, is said to have been built 300 years ago. It is important to include a depiction of the temple in this judgment, which is as under:

3. The above picture speaks for itself. It clearly shows that the Temple is a beautiful, ancient heritage structure, standing as a testament to the archaeological, cultural, and Bhakti heritage of this part of the world. The only goal should be to conserve the Temple. It can be seen that there is a ‘Mahamandapam’ in the front portion, built with granite stones. It is stated that the second stage, the ‘Arthamandapam’ and the ‘karuvarai,’ are built from sandstones. There is an inspection report by the Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India. After detailed inspection, the condition of the Temple is described as follows:

“On physical examination, it has been observed that the stone blocks (exterior portion of the temple), has significant degree of surface scaling and flaking. This degradation is identified as a direct result of environmental weathering, i.e., due to exposure to humidity, temperature fluctuations and atmospheric pollutants. It is critical to note that while the stones appear distressed, the core of the masonry remains structurally sound and has not yet reached a state of internal failure or deep-seated weakening. However, the surface is actively peeling, and in many sections, the stone is beginning to lose its mineral cohesion, showing early signs of "powdering"-a process where the stone minerals disintegrate into fine dust.”

4. The Conservation Strategy is mentioned as follows:

“To pause this aggressive weathering process, it is recommended to immediately take up the work of providing a sacrificial protective coat using traditional lime mortar. This treatment is essential because the stone requires a breathable barrier that can absorb the effect of environmental stress while allowing moisture within the masonry to evaporate. If this protective layer is not applied promptly, the accelerated weathering will penetrate deeper into the stone units, leading to irreversible loss of detail and eventual structural instability. The lime mortar will serve as a "skin" for the stone surface, ensuring that the natural stone beneath is shielded from direct contact with corrosive environmental elements.”

5. The Technical Recommendations made for long-term stability is mentioned as follows.

“The immediate remedial measure involves surface protection alone, however, further scientific studies are mandatory for the long-term preservation of the Ponkaliamman Temple. A comprehensive structural stability study must be commissioned to monitor the load-bearing capacity of the vertical supports and the foundation under current environmental conditions. Furthermore, it is strongly recommended that a dedicated air quality assessment be conducted in the temple vicinity. This will help identify specific airborne pollutants or high salinity levels that may be catalysing the chemical breakdown of the stone. These combined efforts protective lime plastering, stability monitoring, and environmental analysis-are vital for ensuring the temple's longevity for