The DMK government in Tamil Nadu informed the Madurai Bench of the High Court that the Government Order (GO) enabling the registration of temple properties has been withdrawn. Following this submission, the court dismissed a petition that had challenged the validity of the order.
As reported in Hindu Tamil, the petition was filed by Radhakrishnan from Salem, who contended that the GO issued by the Revenue Department on 29 August 2025, would adversely affect the protection of temple lands in the state.
According to the petitioner, temple lands in Tamil Nadu have traditionally been safeguarded by recording their value as “zero” in the Registration Department. This practice prevents private individuals from registering such lands or obtaining patta rights. Any attempt to register temple land could be stopped or cancelled upon complaint.
However, the now-withdrawn GO had provided a mechanism for registering temple properties and granting pattas. It also stipulated that grievances related to temple properties could be addressed only by a committee comprising senior IAS officers.
The petitioner argued that the order would make it easier for temple properties to be transferred to private individuals, describing it as illegal and unconstitutional. He further submitted that temple lands, which fall under categories such as patta land, assigned land, and service land, could be at risk of being alienated under the new framework.
Seeking relief, the petitioner had earlier requested the court to quash the GO and impose an interim stay on its implementation. A division bench had initially granted an interim stay.
When the matter was taken up again before Justices Sathish Kumar and Jyothiraman, the government submitted that the GO had been withdrawn. In view of this development, the bench dismissed the petition.
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