CHENNAI: A writ plea has been made in the Madras High Court for a direction to the State government and the police department to implement a GO dated December 13, 2003 of the Personnel & Adminisrative Reforms department, which banned performance of religious functions at government offices.The interim prayer of TS Mani, president of Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, Tiruvanmiyur, was to restrain the goverment from permitting subordinate officers to perform Ayudha Pooja in government offices. The vacation bench comprising Justices D Hariparanthaman and GM Akbar Ali today ordered notice to the authorities concerned.Petitioner contended that as early as in 1993, the government had issued specific orders prohibiting religious worship or payers within the office campus. Subsequently, on various occasions, government top officials had issued circulars and notifications banning such religious functions. However, collection of money and performance of poojas continued in government offices. A writ petition was filed and the Madras HC on March 17, 2010 had directed the Chief Secretary to implement the Decemebr 1993 GO. Following this, the Personnel & Administrative Reforms department issued a circular in 2010 to follow the 1993 GO scrupulously in its letter and spirit.
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