From the news in The Hindu dated 2016 August 25 The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE) to act according to the suggestions of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in connection with conservation and renovation of heritage temples and monuments in the State. The First Bench of Chief Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice R. Mahadevan passed the direction on a suo motu PIL proceeding initiated based on media reports highlighting improper renovation works being undertaken by State government, resulting in damage to heritage structures. When the PIL plea came up for hearing on Tuesday, a copy of a letter written by the Director and UNESCO representative to Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives, addressed to the Commissioner, HR&CE dated July 15, containing suggestions for conservation of heritage temples and monuments was submitted to the Bench. According to the communication, UNESCO stated that it would be difficult for the organisation to consider the Conservation Manual proposed by the HR&CE Department, as per the common professional understanding, since it fails to address the basic principles of such a manual. UNESCO has also advised to review the current procedures of the department, and to reconcile the principle of Agama Shastra and international conservation standards, and thereby develop a clear guideline for conservation practitioners.