The Chennai Corporation has informed the Madras High Court that illegally constructed structures at a Christian church on St. Mary’s Road, Abhiramapuram in Mylapore will be demolished within three months. The assurance was given in response to a petition filed by Philomena Shojanar, who alleged that unauthorized construction had taken place at the site without obtaining proper planning permission.
In the petition, Shojanar stated that a wedding hall, bell tower, entrance gate, and residential quarters covering between 3,000 and 5,000 square feet had been built in violation of planning norms. She urged the court to order the demolition of the illegal structures and prevent any further unauthorized construction.
The case was heard by a division bench comprising Justices S.M. Subramaniam and K. Rajasekhar. During the hearing, Additional Chief Public Prosecutor M. Sureshkumar submitted a status report on behalf of Chennai Corporation’s 9th Zone Officer P.S. Srinivasan.
According to the report, the new construction was part of an attempt to renovate an old church without acquiring the necessary approvals. On 22 March 2025, officials from the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), Chennai Corporation, and the police inspected the site. They confirmed the presence of several new structures, including a church building, bell tower, entrance gate, and residential areas, all built without proper permits.
Following the inspection, the bell tower was sealed, and a notice was issued for the demolition of the remaining unauthorized structures. The court has directed the Chennai Corporation, CMDA, and Revenue Department officials to carry out the demolition within three months and submit a compliance report.
The next hearing in the case will monitor the progress of the demolition and ensure compliance with the court’s directive.
(With inputs from OneIndia Tamil)
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