News Tamil Nadu

Land grabbers attempt to usurp Thimmarajapuram Perumal Temple land worth 150 crores, VHP comes to the rescue

September 22, 2020
Balaji Subramanian

In another instance of grabbing of temple lands of the temples belonging to the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) departement, land sharks tried to grab Thimmarajapuram Perumal temple land of over 120 acres in Tirunelveli district.

However, their attempts were thwarted by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Temple Worshippers Society as they stepped in to clear the land of illegal squatters.

The Venkatachalapathi Perumal temple is located at Palayamkottai Thimmarajapuram village in Tirunelveli. It comes under the administration of of HR&CE department of the Tamil Nadu government.

Concrete buildings and a new township with residential quarters have been raised on the encroached lands. 

E Armuga Kani, VHP Tirunelveli district secretary was quoted saying in the Organiser that some anti-social elements encroached the lands belonging to the temple. It was reported that they had forged the documents to get pattas which has been possible due to the lackadaisical approach of HR&CE department’s in preserving temple properties.

The VHP had earlier lodged complaints with the district police officials but to no avail. Upon coming to know that the illegal squatters were trying to meet the revenue officials to get the documents in their favour, the VHP on September 21 had filed a petition with the District Collector to not issue new pattas to the illegal squatters and cancel the pattas already given to them. They had also said that there were attempts to register the temple properties under their name. These lands are over 120 acres worth over 150 crores as reported by the Organiser. The VHP and Temple Worshippers Society have requested the district administration to free the temple lands from the encroachers. 

It is to be noted that on September 5th, a division bench headed by Justice M M Sundresh and Justice Hemalatha had restrained authorities from registering or issuing fresh pattas to temple lands. “As per the orders of the HC ( 2020-4 MLJ-625) even if in possession of temple lands for over 80 years, none can claim ownership for the same and the squatters have to return the properties to the authorities”, he pointed out.

Arumuga Kani has urged the authorities to take severe action under sections 77(1) 77(1)34, 78(1), 78(2), 78(2)(i) 78(3) and 79(1),79(2),79(3), 79(A)(i), 79(A)(ii), 79(A)(iii), and 79(B) (i), 79 (B) (ii), 79(B) (iii) and 79 (E) , 80(1), 80(2),80(),80(4) and 81,82(1) of the HR&CE act.

The VHP and temple devotees have said that they would start a protest if action was not taken. 

Illegall grabbing of temple lands in Tamil Nadu under has been going on for a long time under the HR&CE department’s watch.  

Recently, the Madras High Court had said that the state is entitled to administer temple despite being secular as Article 25(2) of the Constitution empowers the state to enact laws for regulating or restricting any economic, financial, political or other secular activity associated with religious practice.

TR Ramesh, president of the Temple Worshippers Society, rubbished the observations made by the Court saying that the government itself had conceded in their reply that they misappropriated temple funds.