Wondering if God can be summoned by a court to be produced for inspection, the Madras High Court has pulled up a lower court for ordering the authorities of a temple in Tirupur district to produce the ‘Moolavar’ (presiding deity) idol, which had been stolen, traced and installed at the shrine after following the rituals and ‘Agama’ rules, for verification.

On Thursday, Justice R Suresh Kumar said the lower court judge, instead, could have deputed an official to verify the veracity of the idol and recorded his findings. The judge pulled up the lower court in Kumbakonam, which is dealing with idol theft cases, for ordering the authorities to produce the said idol belonging to the Paramasivan Swamy temple in Siviripalayam in Tirupur district.