Chennai: Thirteen temples in Tamil Nadu, where renovation and repair work had been kept in abeyance by Madras High Court, on Friday got some relief when it directed the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department to form an expert committee of structural engineers and archaeology, among others, for the purpose.

The direction was given on various PILs and impleading petitions by the temples which came up before the court. The court had directed the department last December to go slow on renovations and repairs for the time being till a proper path is laid ahead. On August 23, it directed the HR&CE to proceed as per suggestions of UNESCO.

On Friday, the court said all miscellaneous petitions filed by the individual temples should be referred to the committee, which would look into the issue of repairs and renovations. The committee will have to prioritise the work, depending on urgency, as some religious ceremonies have to be performed in some temples, for which there are designated days.

The matter relates to the suo motu PIL taken up by the court on renovation of temples and heritage structures in the state. After directing the HRv&vCE department to appoint a committee, the bench posted the matter to November 7.