Madras High Court Directs Immediate Action on Encroachment of Temple Lands
Court Orders Police Protection for HR & CE Officials and Holds District Administration Accountable for Non-Compliance
In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court has issued stringent directives for the removal of encroachments from temple lands belonging to Arulmigu Balasubramaniyaswamy Temple, Vennaimalai, Karur. The judgment, delivered by Justices P. Velmurugan and B. Pugalendhi, comes in response to a contempt petition filed by A. Radhakrishnan, a devotee of the temple, after a six-year delay in implementing a prior court order.
The court has taken strong cognizance of the non-compliance by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department, which was tasked with recovering and restoring the temple properties. Despite the passage of considerable time since the initial order in 2019, over 507 acres of temple land remain under encroachment.
Highlighting the lack of cooperation from various government departments, including the police, revenue, electricity, and fire services, the court has directed the HR & CE Department to form a Monitoring Committee to oversee the implementation of the court's directives. The committee is expected to include senior officials from the HR & CE Department, District Revenue Officer, Joint Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, Special Tehsildar, and Deputy Inspector of Survey.
In a move to ensure compliance, the court has also fixed accountability on the District Administration and the Superintendent of Police, Karur. It has mandated the provision of police protection to HR & CE officials and the temple's Executive Officer and Joint Commissioner to safeguard them from threats and agitations by encroachers.
The court's judgment underscores the persistent issues of non-cooperation and highlights the involvement of influential individuals, government officials, and industrialists in the encroachment. It has directed the HR & CE Department to file detailed reports on the encroachers, including their designations and the extent of occupation.
This ruling aims to bring about decisive action in reclaiming temple lands, emphasizing that any further non-cooperation by any department or official will be viewed as contempt of court. The court has also suo motu impleaded the Superintendent of Police, Karur, as a party respondent in the contempt proceedings, reiterating its commitment to ensuring effective implementation of its orders.
The case has been adjourned to October 17, 2025, with a directive for the presence of respondents and revenue officials, along with all relevant records, to facilitate further adjudication.
Bottom Line:
Encroachment on temple lands - Directions issued to HR & CE Department and other authorities for removal of encroachments and restoration of temple properties. Accountability fixed on District Administration and Police for ensuring compliance - Non-cooperation by authorities and influential encroachers highlighted.
Statutory provision(s): Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959
