HC seeks replies from HR&CE, Corporation over road on temple land

The Madras High Court has directed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department and the Greater Chennai Corporation to respond to a public interest litigation challenging the construction of a permanent road on temple land in Velachery, where rainwater stagnation has been a recurring problem.

In view of waterlogging in the area during the northeast monsoon, the Chennai Corporation Commissioner had, on October 23, written to the HR&CE Commissioner seeking a no-objection certificate to use 5.41 grounds of land, worth around ₹100 crore, belonging to the Dandeeswarar Temple and Yoga Narasimha Temple in Velachery. The land was proposed to be used to lay a tar road connecting the second and fifth main roads in Venkateswara Nagar and Lakshmipuram for public convenience.

While the request was pending, the Corporation Commissioner issued an order on October 27 under the Disaster Management Act permitting the use of the land.

Challenging the move, A. Radhakrishnan of Salem filed a public interest litigation before the Madras High Court, alleging that the compound wall around the temple land had been damaged and heavy machinery, including earthmovers, was being used to lay a permanent tar road.

When the case came up for hearing before a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice S.A. Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan, counsel for the petitioner alleged that a permanent road was being laid on temple land following a request made by local residents to a Minister who visited the area for an inspection. The submission was made despite Chennai having been spared the impact of two cyclones.

The Bench directed the HR&CE Department and the Chennai Corporation to file their responses to the petition and adjourned the hearing to November 10.