Background Image Source: Veludharan
The Madras High Court on Thursday, 3 September 2026, came down heavily on the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department for making a “volte face” over the eviction of encroachments from land belonging to Sri Bashyakara Adi Chenna Kesava Perumal Temple in West Mambalam, as reported in The New Indian Express.
A Division Bench comprising Justices G. Jayachandran and E. Manoharan directed the authorities to clear all encroachments around the temple within four days.
The Bench was hearing a petition filed by C. Janarthanan of West Mambalam, who sought the eviction of encroachers from the temple property and the utilisation of the land for the benefit of devotees.
Court Rejects HR&CE’s Stand
The temple’s Executive Officer submitted a status report before the court on Thursday stating that the occupants had paid part of the dues and that the department had decided to withdraw its earlier decision to evict them.
The Bench refused to accept the report.
The court noted that the occupants had remained on the temple land for nearly six years. It observed that the partial payment of dues appeared to have been made only to frustrate the court’s directions.
“For the past six years, they have been squatting on the temple land and the partial payment is collected only with an intention to defeat the orders of the court,” the Bench remarked.
The judges also criticised the HR&CE Department for reversing its earlier stand on the eviction of the encroachers.
Four Days Given To Clear Encroachments
Issuing a strict deadline, the Bench ordered the respondents to remove all encroachments by September 7 and submit a compliance report before the court on September 8.
“We direct the respondents to evict all the encroachers on or before September 7 and report before the court on September 8,” the bench said in the order passed on Thursday.
The court also directed the Chennai Police Commissioner to provide adequate police protection for carrying out the eviction, if required.
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