We were writing on this subject in 1992 and we are still doing it in 2026. The story of Tamil Nadu’s Heritage Commission seems never-ending. The Government, which has of late been doing a commendable job when it comes to preserving heritage buildings under its purview, has however not bothered to bring in larger systems and procedures into place. That is the responsibility of a heritage commission and unless that is in place, a heritage act will remain just on paper.
Heritage Commission and the High Court’s Questions
The High Court of Madras on January 29 questioned the Tamil Nadu Government as to why it had not yet constituted a heritage commission that could look into the conservation and preservation of ancient structures not covered under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958 (GOI) and its State equivalent dating to 1966. This is not the first time that the High Court has questioned the Government over its tardiness in the matter.
Heritage Commission and the Advertisement Issue
The State Government in response offered what can only be described as dilatory tactics. It said it had advertised for applications from eminent persons to fill in the post of Chairman and had thus far not received any suitable responses. When pressed it came to light that the said advertisement was released on the State Archaeology Department’s website. The Court had difficulty in accessing the site and then directed the State to release advertisements to the same effect in dailies, which presumably has been done.
Heritage Commission and the Gazette Notification
Incidentally, Madras Musings did access the site and found the announcement asking for applications. What was interesting was that the supporting document, which is the gazette notification of the Heritage Act and the constitution of the panel, has numerous handwritten corrections on it, which we reproduce alongside. This is hardly the way an advertisement on a Government website ought to be released.
Heritage Commission from 1992 to the Act of 2012
Be that as it may, it is worth noting here that between 1992 and 2010, S Muthiah was more or less a lone voice writing repeatedly about the necessity for passing a Heritage Act and a Heritage Commission to be set up in the State. The first judgement in this matter came in 2010 when Justice Prabha Sridevan recommended the adopting of the Justice Padmanabhan Committee report on heritage buildings.
Heritage Commission and the Road Ahead
Rather miraculously, the fate of public buildings improved dramatically in the interim. Several others, big and small have vanished and as for private buildings, they have all gone – most owners preferred to demolish and sell before a Heritage Commission prevented them from doing so. What was left in a limbo was the repairs and restoration of temples. It remains to be seen what happens next.
This article appeared in Madras Musings-https://madrasmusings.com/vol-35-no-21/the-never-ending-saga-of-tns-heritage-commission/
My book, Chennai, A Biography can be ordered–http://-http://-http://- https://sriramv.com/2021/12/27/how-to-buy-autographed-copies-of-chennai-a-biography-from-outstation/20.ece
