HC disposes of pleas seeking continuation of excavations at Adichanallur, Sivagalai

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has disposed of two public interest litigations pertaining to archaeological excavations at sites in Adichanallur and Sivagalai in Thoothukudi district. The court disposed of petitions filed by S. Kamaraj of Thoothukudi district. In the 2017 petition, he sought a direction to authorities to take continuous action for excavation in Adichanallur. In the 2019 petition, he sought a direction to authorities to take necessary action for excavation and scientific research in Sivagalai. A Division Bench of Justices G. Jayachandran and K.K. Ramakrishnan took note of the submission of the petitioner’s counsel that earlier, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) undertook the excavation project in Adichanallur on about 114 acres. However, the excavation was limited to a smaller portion. Several directions were given by the court to the Centre and the State, as a result, the State government had taken up excavation on the remaining portions and also established the Porunai Archaeological Museum. The contention of the petitioner’s counsel was that the request of the State to the ASI to extend its excavation on the fenced 114 acres of land was being declined by the Centre. The judges said the present petition was pending before the court for nearly eight years. Pursuant to continuous monitoring, the State was able to excavate the region and establish a museum. If the State government was of the opinion that further excavation would help it discover more materials, it was always open to the State to make a necessary request to the ASI and get permission for excavating the area, now under the ASI’s control. “We wish to add that if any such request is made by the State government, the ASI shall consider it positively and extend full co-operation for the excavation”, the court said and disposed of the petition. With regard to Sivagalai, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that pursuant to the court direction, excavation and scientific research were carried out. The excavation report had been published by the government based on the findings of the expert body. The State government, by carrying out the court directions, had substantially completed the excavation work. The work during the first phase was likely to be displayed in Porunai Museum next year. Published - December 23, 2025 01:00 pm IST

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