Saving about 2000 acres of temple lands worth ₹60,000 crores from sale or lease through fraud, the Madras High Court has issued an order restraining the Thiruporur sub-registrar from creating any encumbrance on the temple properties belonging mostly to Arulmigu Thiruporur Kandaswamy Temple and Arulmigu Thiru Alavandan Temple in Thiruporur.
These properties, administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments are located in the East Coast Road (ECR) and Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) in Chennai which falls under the jurisdiction of Thiruporur sub-registrar office.
Justice MM Sundresh and Justice R Hemalatha admitted the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) tagging it with similar pending matters. The case has been adjourned for further hearing on September 10.
The Thiruporur shooting incident where DMK MLA Idhayavarman opened fire in broad day light in the middle of a road using an unlicensed pistol over a land dispute had brough many shady land deals to light. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed based on news reports that emerged about these shady land deals.
These reports had indicated that 2000 acres of temple land worth ₹60,000 crores were being eyed by land sharks. Around 20 gangs (some with political backing) are said be to trying to grab these properties.
The petition was filed by Advocate B Jagannath saying that there were multiple attempts to transfer these properties illegally using forged documents. Some of those staking claim were from different parts of the state.
In his petition, Jagannath sought the court to pass an interim order directing the authorities to survey the entire land and file a status report within a reasonable time detailing the land encroachments if any. He also wanted the court to restrain the Thiruporur sub-registrar from registering any encumbrance on the said properties.
“The revenue, registration and HR&CE departments have significant collective responsibility to act as custodian and guardian of the temple lands and the manner in which the temple lands are being encroached and misappropriated is disgusting to say the least”, Jagannath noted adding that those refusing to fall in line to these land deals are threatened by local politicians.
“It is the duty of the authorities, especially state revenue department, to protect these temple lands by ensuring that encumbrance of temple properties does not take place without following due process of law.”, the advocate said.