The Madras High Court has directed the Kancheepuram district collector to demolish an illegal structure, a church, built by a pastor on a government ‘Meikal poromboke’ land, within four weeks.
The collector was also directed to conduct and enquiry with regard to the negligence of duty and lapses committed by the local RDO and the Tahsildar in Sriperumbudur for not taking action allowing such illegal activities even after a complaint was filed.
After going through records and listening to arguments placed by both sides of the counsel, the judge found that Pastor C Sathrack had encroached government land to build a Church even after protest from local residents and warnings issued by local authorities.
The direction to enquire about the Tahsildar came from the judge because the Tahsildar and other lower levell authorities colluded with the pastor to build the Church on government land. “It is needless to state that if any such illegal encroachments or illegal constructions of religious institutions are found, then the district Collector is bound to initiate actions by following the procedures as contemplated under law,” the judge, SM Subramaniam said.
(With inputs from Indian Express)
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