The Madras High Court has intervened to stop all renovation work at the ancient Sri Devaraja Swamy Temple (also referred to as Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple) in Kanchipuram, following a petition alleging violations of sacred Agama rules and heritage norms. However, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department, which administers the temple, has been accused of disregarding the court’s order and resuming work, leading to a confrontation with Hindu activist groups.
High Court’s Status Quo Order
On Friday, 14 November 2025, Justice PB Balaji of the Madras High Court issued an immediate order of status quo, halting all further work in the temple premises until 21 November 2025. The order came in response to a writ petition (WP No.44347 of 2025) filed by a devotee, Krishna Devaraya.
The petitioner alleged that the temple authorities were carrying out structural alterations in blatant violation of Agama principles, the religious scriptures that govern temple architecture and rituals. It was also contended that the work was illegal as the mandatory consent of the Heritage Board was not obtained – a board that, as the court noted, has not even been constituted despite prior directives.
Despite claims from the HR&CE and the temple’s executive officer that all necessary approvals were in place, the judge found that the Heritage Board’s consent was absent and other permissions were conditional. Emphasizing that the “sanctity of the temple structure is in question,” the court ordered a freeze on all activities, stating that any structural changes made now would be impossible to undo if the petition is eventually upheld.
Allegations of Defiance and Public Intervention
Despite the clear court directive, the HR&CE department allegedly resumed work on Saturday, November 15. This prompted immediate action from Hindu activists.
According to on-ground reports, on 17 November 2025 representatives of the Hindu Munnani and other affiliated organizations rushed to the temple site upon learning that the work had continued. The activists confronted the authorities, presented a copy of the High Court’s order, and demanded an immediate cessation of the “illegal” work. Their intervention successfully forced a halt to the activities for the day.
உயர்நீதிமன்ற உத்தரவை மீறி பணிகளை மேற்கொண்ட இந்து சமய அறநிலையத்துறை..!!
சட்ட விரோதமாக நடைபெறும் பணிகளை நிறுத்திய இந்து முன்னணியினர்!!!
காஞ்சிபுரம் ஶ்ரீ வரதராஜ பெருமாள் கோவிலில் ஆகம விதிகளுக்கு மாறாக நடைபெற்றிருந்த பணிகளை உடனே நிறுத்த வேண்டும் என்று நேற்று சென்னை உயர்நீதிமன்றம்… pic.twitter.com/CUopgtYCVF
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) November 17, 2025
The situation remains tense as the matter is scheduled for its next hearing on 21 November 2025. The court is expected to take a serious view of the allegations that its order was violated, potentially initiating contempt proceedings against the temple administration.
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