Just as the controversy around handing over Palani temple land to private individuals simmers, in a move that has shocked the Hindu community, the HR&CE Department under the Joseph Vijay TVK government, has in a way, handed over a prime property belonging to the Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple in Adyar to the Cancer Institute (WIA) for the restoration of Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy’s former residence and its conversion into a memorial.
As reported in The Hindu, the decision follows the implementation of a Madras High Court order permitting the Cancer Institute (WIA) to renovate the property. The stately bungalow, where Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy, the country’s first woman medical graduate, the first woman legislator in India, founder of the Cancer Institute (WIA), and founder of Avvai Home, lived for over three decades from 1936, is currently in a dilapidated condition and requires urgent restoration.
Although the land belongs to the Tiruvannamalai Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple, Dr. Reddy had occupied it on lease and established the Avvai Home, her residence, and two small shrines dedicated to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Saraswathi on the premises.
According to author V.R. Devika, who has extensively documented Dr. Reddy’s life and has been advocating for the restoration of the property, the temple sought to increase the lease rent after the lease period expired. Since Avvai Home, which operated as a free educational institution for girls, could not afford the revised rent, it later shifted to a new campus on land allotted by former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran, with access provided through Besant Avenue during the tenure of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. The surrounding lands were subsequently returned to the temple.
Devika also noted that the renovation will not be funded through temple resources. Instead, the project will be financed through the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Trust, created by Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy’s son, Dr. Krishnamurthy, after he sold his personal property comprising 32 grounds on LB Road. Since temple lands cannot be purchased outright, the trust was established to support both the Cancer Institute and Avvai Home.
Following the handover, V. Susheela, Honorary Secretary of Avvai Home, thanked the Arunachaleswarar Temple authorities and HR&CE Secretary J. Kumaragurubaran for entrusting the building to the Cancer Institute for restoration and maintenance as a memorial. She stated that architectural plans are ready and that the renovated building will feature an exhibition on Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy, along with a space for small gatherings. The Cancer Institute will also maintain the surrounding premises.
N. Sugalchand Jain, Chairman of Avvai Home, said the institution received the handover letter on Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy‘s death anniversary and assured that the restoration would preserve the building’s original architectural character.
Advocate N.L. Rajah, who represented the institution, said the temple authorities had complied with the portion of the Madras High Court order permitting the renovation of Dr. Reddy’s residence. However, he noted that the temple had filed an appeal regarding the quantum of rental arrears payable by Avvai Home, arguing that the institution should not be treated as a commercial enterprise given its charitable work for economically weaker sections.
Questions Raised Over Shrinking Temple Land Holdings
The development has nevertheless reignited concerns among temple rights groups, who point to HR&CE records relating to the Arunachaleswarar Temple. According to the department’s own land register, philanthropist Sri Ramaswami Mudaliar had endowed around 30 acres of land to the temple for the conduct of the annual Karthigai Deepam festival.
The same records now show that only 15.85 acres remain under the temple’s ownership. Temple rights activists have questioned what happened to the remaining land and alleged that the department has failed to adequately protect temple properties over the decades. They have also asked whether even the remaining extent is free from encroachments.
Concerns Over Prime Temple Property
Activists have also objected to the handing over of a 32-ground parcel situated on Adyar’s prime LB Road, estimating its market value at around ₹150 crore. They argue that such a valuable temple asset should not be repurposed for non-temple use and have questioned whether similar decisions would have been taken had the property belonged to a private individual rather than a Hindu temple.
Questions Over ₹28 Crore Rental Arrears
Temple rights activists have further expressed concern over reports that the temple authorities may withdraw an appeal involving nearly ₹28 crore in rental arrears allegedly due to the temple. They contend that foregoing such claims would result in a substantial loss to the temple and have demanded greater transparency regarding the legal proceedings.
அட உத்தம யோக்கியர்களா ! கோயில் நிலம் எல்லாம் உங்களுக்கு கிள்ளு கீரையா போச்சு !
சென்னை அடையாரில் ஸ்ரீ அருணாச்சலேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில் கார்த்திகை தீப உற்சவத்திற்காக ஸ்ரீ ராமஸ்வாமி முதலியார் என்ற சிவபக்தர் எழுதி வைத்த 30 ஏக்கர் நிலத்தில் தற்போது 15.85 ஏக்கர்கள் தாம் இருக்கின்றன… pic.twitter.com/gukPDjqsBr
— trramesh (@trramesh) July 26, 2026
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