Kanchi Mutt to participate in NHRC proceedings

Friday, January 14 2005 19:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kalavai (TN): Kanchi Mutt will participate in the proceedings initiated by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) against Tamil Nadu Government in the matter of selective leakage of video excerpts to some television channels on the alleged statements of the senior Seer, Jayendra Saraswathi, during police custody in November last.

''We, as advocates, will definitely be taking action. Anyhow, since NHRC has taken suo motu notice of the issue, we are of the view that we should await the outcome of the proceedings,'' Mutt lawyer Y Thyagarajan, said in Kalavai today (Jan 14, 2005).

''As the affected party, we will also appear and present our views to the commission,'' he said adding the Mutt lawyers were also verifying the veracity of the tapes as to who released it and why.

Pointing out that it was an ''infringement'' of the fundamental rights of a person, he said if the statement had indeed been given voluntarily by the Seer, the police could have very well recorded it before a Magistrate under Sec 164 of the CrPC.

To a question, he said the Mutt would file a separate case, if the need arose.

On the activities inside the Mutt in Kalavai, Thyagarajan said the Acharya was performing regular poojas and the devotees were thronging the place to seek his blessings. The Seer was, however, continuing his 'maun vrat' (silence), he said adding that no one knew when he would break it.

He also said that devotees were making offerings including things like milk, fruits, rice etc, to meet the daily requirements of the Mutt ''at this difficult stage'', as bank accounts had been frozen by the State Government.

On the letter written by the Mutt to the Prime Minister yesterday, he said it might have been an administrative matter and he being the legal advisor, was not aware of its drafting.

PTI