The Hindu Munnani organization organized a fervent protest today (23 August 2023) against the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious Charitable and Endowments (HR&CE) Department for allegedly transferring land valued at approximately ₹100 crore, which belongs to the Vadapalani Murugan Temple, to Christian Missionaries.
The protest, led by Chennai South Hindu Munnani district secretary Gemini, took place at 4:00 pm in front of the temple land near Dasarathapuram Bus Stand, adjacent to Cariappa High School in Saligramam, Chennai. Thurai Shankar from Sabarimalai Ayyappan Seva Samajam and A.T. Elangovan, the Chennai city president of Hindu Munnani, were among the notable leaders who joined the demonstration opposing the DMK government and the HR&CE department.
BJP Tamil Nadu State Secretary SG Suryah presided over the protest as a special invitee.
#தென்சென்னை தொகுதிக்குட்பட்ட விருகம்பாக்கத்தில் வடபழனி அருள்மிகு முருகன் கோவிலுக்கு சொந்தமான நிலத்தை தமிழக அறநிலையத்துறை செயின்ட் ஜோசப் கல்விக் குழுமத்திற்கு தாரை வார்த்ததை கண்டித்து #இந்துமுன்னணி நடத்திய ஆர்ப்பாட்டத்தில் சிறப்பு அழைப்பாளராக கலந்துக்கொண்டேன். @hindumunnani_tn pic.twitter.com/p69bUKEEfo
— Dr.SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) August 23, 2023
In an official statement, the Hindu Munnani conveyed, “The land bearing survey number 49 in Saligramam, Chennai, has been under the ownership of Vadapalani Murugan Temple for over a century. Historical records, including the OSR records of 1875 and RSR records of 1911, affirm the temple’s legitimate claim to Survey Nos. 41, 43, and 49, which were initially agricultural plots named under the Vadapalani Andavar Temple. In 1956, a lease agreement encompassing the property, including Survey No. 49, was registered in the Saidai Registration Office.”
The release further elucidated, “In a perplexing turn of events, in 1933, a man named Janagiraman purportedly sold 8.8 acres of land in Saligramam, including Survey 49, which belonged to Vadapalani temple, to St. Joseph’s College, consequent to a settlement reached between two parties in the Saidai Register Office. Subsequently, in 2007, St. Joseph’s College asserted its ownership of land under survey number 49, claiming possession since 1933. They contended that the government erroneously allotted the land to the temple in 1963 under the Estate Abolition Act (Act 26 of 1963), without due notification. As a result, they filed a petition to reclaim the land.”
Hindu Munnani added, “The government has conspicuously omitted to present the court with records validating the temple’s century-long possession of the land. Furthermore, the government has failed to put forward the argument that the Estate Abolition Act does not extend to temple lands, as they do not fall under its purview. Also, the HR&CE department refrained from contesting the validity of St. Joseph’s College’s acquisition from Janakiraman Pillai.”
Hindu Munnani continued, “The concept of ‘Adverse Possession’ cannot be invoked to claim temple land. Moreover, appeals against rulings under the Estate Abolition Act must be lodged within a span of six months. However, St. Joseph’s College submitted its appeal after a lapse of 40 years. It is pertinent to note that, as per the Estate Abolition Act (Act 30 of 1963), those enjoying temple land for less than 60 years are required to compensate the temple for its acquisition. Post-1970, no temple land has been allotted through ‘Adverse Possession’ under this Act. Strikingly, neither the HR&CE department nor the court probed the subsequent utilization of the remaining property obtained by St. Joseph’s College in Saligramam.”
Concluding, Hindu Munnani contended, “Hence, it appears evident that a connivance between the HR&CE department and temple administration facilitated the transfer of land worth ₹100 crores to St. Joseph’s College.”