(May 8): The chairman of Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Dhevastanam, reputedly the wealthiest Hindu organisation in the country, has been directed to file affidavit-in-reply by May 15 in response to an action to remove him from office.

Lawyer P. Uthayakumar, who is representing former Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M. Manoharan, said high court deputy registrar Arun Noval Dass made the order after hearing submissions in chambers.

"The defendant (Tan Sri R. Nadaraja) wanted an extension of time but we objected. The deputy registrar agreed with our points raised," he said.

Uthayakumar said Arun fixed another case management on June 3.

Lawyers G. Rajasingam and R. Aswath appeared for Nadaraja.

Manoharan, who is also a lawyer, filed the suit on April 17, saying among other things 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.

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, added 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