Chennai: The Madras High Court Friday asked the Tamil Nadu government to respond to its notices within two weeks as to why the traditional Tamil New Year date has been changed.

Directed by the Supreme Court to approach the high court for relief, litigant "Traffic" Ramaswamy challenged the state government's order changing the traditional Tamil New Year from April 11 to Jan 14 from 2009 onwards.

"The state government does not possess any right to alter historical and culturally established events through legislation or ordinances because it interferes with masses' private religious beliefs. Therefore, the order to change the Tamil New Year should be quashed," Ramaswamy said in his plea.

A similar petition was dismissed by the high court some eight months agoand the plaintiff was levied a cost of Rs.10,000 as the court held he had no locus standi in the case.

The apex court which heard the appeal reversed the ruling with regard to the cost and said the high court should look at the matter afresh since the state government's decision questioned a 2,000 year-old belief.

Traditionally, Tamils celebrate the new year in the Tamil month of Chithirai (mid-April) while the Tamil Nadu government ruled that henceforth it should be celebrated on January 14 (Tamil month Thai) that marks the harvest festival in the state and is celebrated across the country as makar Sankranti.