(May 5): The High Court has fixed case management for a suit to remove the chairman of the richest Hindu temple in Malaysia for this Friday.

Former Kota Alam Shah assemblyman Manoharan filed the suit on April 17, saying among others that he wanted Nadaraja removed for failing to administer the organisation as a charitable, cultural, religious and educational trust.

Manoharan also wanted the High Court to set aside a 1930 Supreme Court order that the temple was a charitable trust for the benefit of a select group of people.

Lawyer P. Uthayakumar who represents Manoharan said a High Court deputy registrar would conduct the case management where he was expected to give further instruction to counsel.

"We have served the court papers to a lawyer who is expected to appear for Nadaraja," Uthayakumar told The Malaysian Insider.

In his suit, Manoharan said Nadaraja had abused his power by remaining as temple chairman for about 30 years.

"We also want to stop him from being a signatory to cheques and that his sons do not succeed him. Next year's Thaipusam festival should also not be led by Nadaraja," he said in his originating summons.

The Batu Caves temple which is the nation's main venue during the Thaipusam festival, is among 19 movable and immovable properties worth about RM2 billion owned by the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Dhevastanam.

Manoharan said the tenure of all future temple chairmen should be limited to two terms, or four years.

"All Malaysian Hindus should have the right to elect the temple management committee which is not the case now," he added.

The former Internal Security Act detainee, who spent almost two years in Kamunting, further said that Nadaraja and his immediate family members must declare their assets and all future statement of accounts be independently prepared by an accountant appointed by Manoharan.

In the suit, he also wanted the temple management to stop a proposed development of the Sungai Tua land in Batu Caves for an RM250 million condominium project and to instead build a Tamil secondary school with hostel facilities. – The Malaysian Insider