In a major relief for devotees, the Madras High Court has declared the toll collection at the Yettapur Muthumalai Murugan Temple illegal, ruling that the local body acted without any legal sanction.
The issue began when the local authority at Yettapur passed a resolution to impose toll fees on the road leading to the temple, even displaying a banner at the entrance to announce it. However, the collection was started without any Government Notification or approval, causing hardship to devotees and the general public.
An RTI application seeking the legal basis for this toll revealed that officials had cited Section 95 of the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998 to justify the move. But Section 95 clearly states that toll collection requires a prior Government Gazette Notification specifying the tariff, purpose, mode, duration, and authorised collector. No such notification existed in this case.
The local body bypassed the mandatory legal process and even awarded a tender to a private individual to collect tolls — an action the Court described as ultra vires and arbitrary.
The case was initiated by BJP Tamil Nadu Youth Wing Head Dr. S. G. Suryah, who filed the petition highlighting how the arbitrary toll collection violated legal provisions and burdened devotees visiting the temple. Suryah argued that no local authority has the power to impose tolls without government sanction, and that such actions erode public trust in governance.
After reviewing the records, the Madras High Court observed that no Government Notification was produced by the respondents and held that the toll collection was unlawful. The Court made it clear that until a proper notification is issued, the local body has no authority to collect tolls from devotees or the public.
Speaking on the judgment, BJP leader Dr. S.G. Suryah said,
“Victory to Vel Murugan, the Benevolent One! Justice has prevailed! This is not just about a fee — it was an attack on our heritage, our faith, and on Lord Muruga himself. By the grace of Lord Muruga, we have fulfilled our promise to the devotees.”
Dr. SG Suryah recalled how he had joined Hindu Munnani leader Kadeswara Subramaniam at a mass protest on July 29, where he pledged to take the matter to court. “That day, in front of thousands of devotees, I vowed to reclaim their rights — and today, dharma has triumphed,” he said.
He also thanked the BJP Youth Wing Legal Convener Abhilash G and the legal team who fought tirelessly for the case, calling it “a victory of devotion and justice over exploitation.”
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