The Madras High Court, on Tuesday (July 1, 2025) permitted renovation works to be carried out inside the Devarajaswamy Temple at Kancheepuram, by Larsen and Toubro (L&T), after the temple management assured to maintain the heritage value as well as aesthetics and not violate the Agama sastras.

Justice N. Anand Venkatesh disposed of a writ petition filed by Thathadesikar Thiruvamsathar Sabha after recording the submissions made by the temple’s executive trustee R. Rajalakshmi that the works were being carried only with the concurrence of sthalathars, archakas and sthanigas.

Representing the temple management, advocate K.V. Babu told the court that the Devarajaswamy Temple was an ancient institution visited by thousands of devotees every day and hence it required certain changes from time to time to ensure better crowd managment practices.

The counsel said, the management had decided to lay a temporary ramp on the pathway leading to the garbagriha (sanctum sanctorum) for the benefit of the elderly and the differently-abled devotees and therefore, it could not be objected to by attaching religious significance to climbing the steps.

“The proposed modification is in accordance with Agamic traditions and for the safety and welfare of the public in general. Since these steps are steep and risky, the alteration has been suggested for the safety of the elderly and differently abled persons,” he said.

Similarly, the temple administration had decided to construct another ramp for the benefit of the devotees who throng in large numbers to touch a golden lizard found on the ceiling. Further, a pedestal bridge too had been planned to manage the crowd during peak seasons, he added.

Asserting that no sannidhis, deities or mural paintings would be disturbed during the renovation, the counsel said, the Heritage and Archaeological Preservation Committee had also reviewed and approved the renovation plan after being satisfied that no heritage structure would be disturbed.

Mr. Babu also informed the court the construction plan submitted by L&T had been examined thoroughly and approved by the Regional Level Empowered Committee as well as the State Level Empowered Committee constituted for the purpose of monitoring changes to ancient temples.