TOP 10 Ad CITY Idol theft cases: Lawyer moves Madras high court to enhance punishment Sureshkumar | TNN | Dec 17, 2019, 15:18 IST TNN (Representative image) Get Notifications on latest Chennai News CHENNAI: An advocate has approached the Madras high court seeking to enhance punishment in antique idol theft cases from three years to at least 14 years. The maximum punishment provided under the Antiquities Act is only three years while the market value of any such stolen antique items would exceed Rs 1 crore. The quantum of punishment should be made appropriate to the value of the idol stolen, S Sridharan said. When the plea came up for hearing, assistant solicitor general G Karthikeyan accepted notice on behalf of the central government and sought time to get instructions as to whether any proposal is mooted to incorporate appropriate amendment for effective dealing of idol theft cases. Recording the same, a division bench of Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice R Hemalatha posted the plea to February 5, 2020 for further hearing. According to the petitioner, though Archaeological Survey of India is the competent authority to take criminal actions in cases of idol theft, the department lacks adequate manpower to depute officials across Tamil Nadu to initiate appropriate action in thousands of idol theft cases. Stressing the need for amending the Act, the petitioner contended that it should be amended so as to permit a police officer not below the cadre of inspector to visit places where such antiques are seized and register criminal cases. The petitioner also cited a letter written by the former special officer of idol wing Pon Manickavel to the government in support of his plea. In the communication, Manickavel highlighted the need to amend the Act to ensure stricter action against idol thieves. Though a representation was made to the authorities on October 14, no action had been taken, the petitioner said.

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Idol theft cases: Lawyer moves Madras high court to enhance punishment

Sureshkumar | TNN | Dec 17, 2019, 15:18 IST

(Representative image)

Get Notifications on latest Chennai News

CHENNAI: An advocate has approached the Madras high court

 seeking to enhance punishment in antique idol theft

 cases from three years to at least 14 years.

The maximum punishment provided under the Antiquities Act is only three years while the market value of any such stolen antique items would exceed Rs 1 crore. The quantum of punishment should be made appropriate to the value of the idol stolen, S Sridharan said.

When the plea came up for hearing, assistant solicitor general G Karthikeyan accepted notice on behalf of the central government and sought time to get instructions as to whether any proposal is mooted to incorporate appropriate amendment for effective dealing of idol theft cases.

Recording the same, a division bench of Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice R Hemalatha posted the plea to February 5, 2020 for further hearing.

According to the petitioner, though Archaeological Survey of India is the competent authority to take criminal actions in cases of idol theft, the department lacks adequate manpower to depute officials across Tamil Nadu

 to initiate appropriate action in thousands of idol theft cases.

Stressing the need for amending the Act, the petitioner contended that it should be amended so as to permit a police officer not below the cadre of inspector to visit places where such antiques are seized and register criminal cases.

The petitioner also cited a letter written by the former special officer of idol wing Pon Manickavel

 to the government in support of his plea. In the communication, Manickavel highlighted the need to amend the Act to ensure stricter action against idol thieves.

Though a representation was made to the authorities on October 14, no action had been taken, the petitioner said.

Sureshkumar | TNN | Dec 17, 2019, 15:18 IST

(Representative image)

Get Notifications on latest Chennai News

CHENNAI: An advocate has approached the Madras high court

 seeking to enhance punishment in antique idol theft

 cases from three years to at least 14 years.

The maximum punishment provided under the Antiquities Act is only three years while the market value of any such stolen antique items would exceed Rs 1 crore. The quantum of punishment should be made appropriate to the value of the idol stolen, S Sridharan said.

When the plea came up for hearing, assistant solicitor general G Karthikeyan accepted notice on behalf of the central government and sought time to get instructions as to whether any proposal is mooted to incorporate appropriate amendment for effective dealing of idol theft cases.

Recording the same, a division bench of Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice R Hemalatha posted the plea to February 5, 2020 for further hearing.

According to the petitioner, though Archaeological Survey of India is the competent authority to take criminal actions in cases of idol theft, the department lacks adequate manpower to depute officials across Tamil Nadu

 to initiate appropriate action in thousands of idol theft cases.

Stressing the need for amending the Act, the petitioner contended that it should be amended so as to permit a police officer not below the cadre of inspector to visit places where such antiques are seized and register criminal cases.

The petitioner also cited a letter written by the former special officer of idol wing Pon Manickavel

 to the government in support of his plea. In the communication, Manickavel highlighted the need to amend the Act to ensure stricter action against idol thieves.

Though a representation was made to the authorities on October 14, no action had been taken, the petitioner said.

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